Travel and tourism.

• Author: McCool, Steve
• Position: The Montana Economy within a Regional Context - Major Industries - Industry Overview

Early in 1991, the nation's travel and tourism industry was hit with a triple peril: recession, war, and the threat of terrorism. Nationally, intercity auto travel was flat and domestic air travel was down about 3 percent. For many regions of the United States, the travel and tourism industry had a difficult year.

In contrast to the 1981-82 recession, Montana's travel and tourism industry somehow escaped the negative impacts of 1991's national and international events. Nonresident skier visits continued to climb in 1991 despite a weak beginning caused by poor weather during the 1990 holiday season. Nonresident highway visitors increased about 2 percent while air travel to Montana increased about 4 percent. Visits to Montana's national parks reached all time highs; Yellowstone recorded nearly 3 million visits, Glacier more than 2 million visits.

The state's accommodation tax revenue is another key indicator of travel trends. Revenue increased 10 percent or more on a year to year basis for each of the first three quarters of 1991.

Nonresident spending also increased. Preliminary estimates suggest total nonresident spending in Montana during 1991 will reach about $815 million, an increase of 7 percent over 1990.

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