With summer tourism season fast approaching, South Dakota's 13 Interstate information centers will be opening Saturday, May 17.

The centers, which are open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the summer, are along Interstates 90 and 29 near Chamberlain, Salem, Spearfish, Tilford, Vivian and Wasta on I-90, and New Effington, Valley Springs, Vermillion and Wilmot on I-29.

"Information Center travel counselors answer questions and offer travel tips to visitors throughout the summer," said Department of Tourism and State Development Secretary Richard Benda. "Their efforts can really have an impact on our visitors' experience."

Visitors can find literature and posters about visitor businesses at the centers. Travel counselors are equipped with computers to help answer visitor's travel questions.

The Department of Transportation maintains kiosks at each center with road and weather information that are accessible 24 hours a day, year-round.

"While the other centers close in mid-September, the centers at Chamberlain, Spearfish, Valley Springs and Vermillion will remain open through October," said Melissa Bump, Office of Tourism director. "This is to accommodate the influx of out-of-state hunters and increasing number of visitors during the fall season."

The Interstate Information Center travel counselors are hired by the South Dakota Office of Tourism. Efforts of the Information Centers and their staff are part of Goal 1 of the 2010 initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota.