Montana Record Tourism Predicted

More than 10.9 million out-of-state travelers will have visited Montana in 2012. This is according to a preliminary estimate by The University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recrceation Research. That's a 3.2% increase over 2011. So far non-resident travelers have spent nearly 3.2 billion dollars in Montana, which is 15% more than they did in 2011. Montana's national park system saw a 9% increase in visitation, highlighted by the 21% increase in visitors to Glacier National Park, thanks in part to Going-to-the-Sun Road opening three weeks earlier than it did in 2011. Well, regardless of the reason(s), let's bottle as much of the winning formula as we can and pour it on 2013. The travel industry is on the rebound and I hope we can be one of the states in the front row waving "Welcome" signs. DB