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Research

The Economic Impact of Tourism in Montana

The impact of non-resident travel has been researched by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) at the University of Montana since 1987. Additionally, the U.S. Travel Association measures the impact of tourism in each state, and the National Park Service measures visitor statistics and the economic impact of Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park on local communities.

In 2021, Montana’s over 12.5 million non-resident visitors:

  • spent $5.15 billion 
  •  supported 68,630 jobs statewide
  • generated $388 million in state & local taxes
  • lowered taxes on each Montana household by over $866
2019 Nonresident Travel Economic Impacts & Expenditures2019 Economic Contribution of Nonresident Travel Spending – Regions & Counties
MT Trends: Consumer Confidence: Expectations for Income, Travel and RecreationPower of Travel: U.S. Travel Industry Impact 2018
Economic Impact of the US Hotel IndustryCustomize Your Own Montana Tourism Report
Resident Travel in MontanaNational Park Visitor Statistics
Montana Tourism Trends and ForecastingMontana Lodging Tax Collections by State, Region, CVB and County