Education was the basis for the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association’s new tourism public relations initiative that was unveiled at a conference at Fairmont Hot Springs Monday afternoon.
Economist Patrick Barkey told conference attendees that travel and tourism is a lead industry for the Treasure State. That’s why the executive director of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association says they are launching this new initiative to educate the public and lawmakers about the value of tourism and what it means to the state’s economy.
He wants to make sure the state continues to provide dollars for tourism promotion so Montana doesn’t lose tourists to other states.
“Right now we look at what tourism does for our economy and it generates a little over 28,000 jobs in our economy. It also when we bring the non-residents into our state they bring in $2.5 billion and that helps our businesses,” Stuart Doggett, Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association Executive Director, said.
This story aired on KXLF on Oct. 25, 2011.
