2012: A record tourist year

The numbers are in: Out-of-state tourists came to Montana last year in record numbers — and they spent a record amount of money.

According to the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, 10.8 million nonresidents visited Montana in 2012, about 2 percent more than in 2011 and more than in any previous year.

Those visitors spent $3.27 billion, about 15 percent more than in 2011 and more than in any previous year. That total accounts for about 7.3 percent of Montana’s gross domestic product.

Nonresident visitor spending directly supports $2.6 billion in economic activity and nearly 30,000 jobs, ITRR reported. Indirect impacts by nonresident expenditures includes another $1.6 billion in economic activity and 13,000 more jobs. Indirect travel-related jobs totaled $805 million in labor income, and indirect travel-related spending totaled $448 million.

Kara Grau, ITRR’s assistant director of economic analysis, took note of improvements in the state’s tourist industry.

“It seems Montana has regained any ground lost during the recession in terms of statewide visitation and overall visitor spending,” she said.

ITRR surveyors collect information year-round so the institute can post accurate and up-to-date estimates. Their work is funded by the state’s 4 percent bed tax. Reports and other information can be found online at www.itrr.umt.edu.

The state’s bed tax revenue is also used to promote tourism here. Current efforts include mobile promotions for people with smartphones, such as the “Get Lost” app that uses a smartphone’s GPS system to present localized information.

The Montana Office of Tourism hopes mobile promotions will help both out-of-state and in-state tourists learn about less well known destinations as they cruise on down the highway. The office is projecting it will have about $15.4 million in their fiscal year 2013 budget to continue its promotion efforts.