More than 10.4 million visitors spent $2.9 billion in Montana in 2006. That’s $700 million more than they spent here the previous year.
“That’s new money flowing into Montana, giving our state’s economy a huge boost,” said Dori Muehlhof, Executive Director of the Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau, based in Kalispell. “Tourism is one of Montana’s leading and fastest-growing industries.”
The Flathead Valley joins hundreds of communities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide in recognizing the 25th annual National Tourism Week, May 10-18, Muehlhof said. Designated by Congress in 1983, the event celebrates the value of the United States’ $740 billion travel and tourism industry, and the economic and social contributions it brings to local communities like the Flathead.
“National Tourism Week celebrates the people who visit here, the hardworking folks who provide service for them and the powerful economic development that result,” Muehlhof added.
“Hotels and meeting facilities, retailers, restaurants, resorts, outfitters and transportation providers are among the local businesses that benefit from tourism, and they pass those economic benefits on to our communities,” she continued. “Tourism and recreation businesses support 48,580 jobs statewide and visitor spending pays $918 million in Montana workers’ salaries. Visitor spending generated $230 million in state and local tax revenues in 2006, saving the typical Montana household about $600 in taxes.”
Muehlhof will be the guest speaker at the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday, May 13 at the Columbia Falls Community Center. Her presentation will focus on tourism, National Tourism Week and how tourism benefits Flathead communities.
The mission of the Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau is to strengthen the economy of Montana’s Flathead Valley through cooperative tourism marketing efforts and to encourage continuing respect for the Flathead Valley’s outstanding natural environment and quality of life.
National Tourism Week is sponsored annually by the Travel Industry Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents the common interests and concerns of travel in America.
Nationwide, the U.S. travel industry directly employees 7.5 million people, generates payroll of $178 billion and tax revenues of about $110 billion. TIA ranks travel fifth among 20 major private industry sectors. Visitors to the U.S. spent more here than U.S. residents traveling abroad, creating a positive balance of trade of $8.3 billion for the national economy. Travel expenditures within the United States total $740 billion.
|
