MISSOULA, Mont. - The University of Montana recently released its data estimates that shows how the state's travel industry performed in 2023. The study covers the number of tourists that visited the treasure state in 2023 and the money that they generated for the local economy.
The University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Reseach surveyed almost 10,000 non-residents and close to 18,000 Montanans for this study. They found a slight decrease in tourist spending in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The study's estimates shows that 12.5 million people came to the treasure state in 2022 and 2023. Last year those tourists spent around $5.4 billion dollars which is lower than in 2022, when $5.8 billion dollars was spent.
The top three areas for visitor spending were transportation, restaurants and bars, and lodging. These industries are estimated to have pulled in over $1 billion dollars each in 2023.
Yellowstone and Glacier national parks saw the bulk of the tourists. The two parks combined saw nearly 7.5 million visitors in 2023. All of Montana's other state parks combined saw 3.1 million visitors, which is an increase from last year.
The revenue that tourism brings to the state affects Montanans in many positive ways. The study says that tourism revenue reduced the average tax burden on every Montana household by $930 dollars. Also, 1 out of every 12 workers in Montana are supported by out-of-state travel.
Montana airports collectively enjoyed a prolific 2023. They saw 2.8 million passengers this past year, which is nearly a 10% increase in visitors compared to 2022. The airport that saw the most non-resident passengers flying in was Bozeman by a wide margin, with an over estimated 600,000 in 2023, followed by the Kalispell airport which saw an estimated 260,000 nonresident travelers that year.
To see the 2023 Montana travel industry study summary, please follow this link.
To see the full 2023 estimates for nonresident visitation, expenditures, and economic contributions, please follow this link.
