Billings Gazette Opinion: Montana Richer for Welcoming 10.5 Million Visitors
From the July 31, 2012 edition of the Billings Gazette Montanans are outnumbered 10 to 1 by their out-of-state visitors. That demand for hospitality is highly profitable for our sparsely populated state. Last year, nonresident travelers pumped $3.3 billion into Montana’s economy, according to the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana. […]
Bed Tax is 25 Years Old
From the July 29, 2012 edition of the Billings Gazette by Lorna Thackeray Before the year is out, tourism experts say, 10.5 million out-of-state visitors will journey to or through Montana, dropping somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 billion.
Yellowstone Gateway Businesses Join Effort to Highlight Montana Tourism Industry
Published May 15, 2012 on YellowstoneGate.com by Ruffin Prevost As Memorial Day approaches, and with it the start of the summer travel season, members of Montana’s tourism industry around Yellowstone National Park are pushing to make sure legislators are aware of their economic clout.
Tourism Lesson Taught in Bigfork
Aired on KAJ on May 8, 2012 A pair of Montana state senators are touring Flathead Valley businesses that cash in big during the summer season in an effort to beef up tourism throughout the state. Llew Jones and Bruce Tutvedt stopped by the Marina Cay resort in Bigfork on Tuesday to learn more about […]
Local Lawmakers on the Front Lines of the Tourism Industry for Tourism Works Day
Aired on KULR May 8, 2012 Tourism brings about $2.8 billion to Montana every year. Tuesday, on Montana’s Tourism Works Day, local lawmakers got busy on the front lines of the tourism industry. State Senator Gary Branae helped serve lunch at a brunch recognizing volunteers with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He was one of […]
Montana Senator Bartends For Tourism
Aired on KFBB May 8, 2012 Only about one million people live in Montana, but 10.5 million visit the treasure state each year, so you can see how important tourism is to our state’s economy. Today, about a dozen lawmakers and hopeful lawmakers across the big sky state are pitching in to help out the […]
Tourism Campaigns Help Drive Montana’s Economy
In this special assignment report, KAJ news in Kalispell speaks to Rhonda Fitzgerald, chair of the Montana Tourism Advisory Council, about the effectiveness of advertising campaigns promoting Montana to out-of-state travelers.The story notes that the state’s fiscal 2010-11 advertising campaign netted $157 in visitor spending in return for each dollar spent on advertising.
Montana Leaders Lend a Hand to Tourism Businesses for Tourism Works Day Event
Helena, Mont. (Tues., May 1, 2012) ― As Montana tourism businesses prepare for the summer travel season, they’ll receive a little help from state lawmakers and legislative candidates on Tues., May 8 during the statewide “Tourism Works Day” event. Organized by Voices of Montana Tourism, the first-time event is one of many taking place across […]
Tourism Raises Voice for Support at Chamber
From the April 24, 2012 edition of the Havre Daily News by Tim Leeds A representative of a recently formed group was in Havre this morning, telling the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Committee the importance of letting state leaders know how vital tourism is. “If there is one number that speaks to […]
Visitors to Montana Rebounding
Published in the April 22, 2012 edition of the Missoulian by Tristan Scott Montana’s tourism industry continued to steadily rebound in 2011, as 10.5 million out-of-state visitors helped lift the industry back up to levels approaching a pre-recession peak. And even as gas prices rise and travelers remain reluctant to unclasp their pocketbooks, industry forecasters […]
