Marketing Montana: "Tourism Matters to Montana" – Group highlights importance of attracting tourists to the Treasure State

Ten million people visited Montana in 2009, and they spent $2.27 billion here.

That enormous economic impact is vital to the state’s economy, and it should be protected, say members of a new group organized to highlight the importance of tourism in Montana.

Tourism Matters to Montana http://www.tourismmattersmt.org/ is made up of 18 employees of chambers of commerce and other tourism bureaus from Miles City and Havre to Deer Lodge and Missoula. The privately funded group aims to educate state legislators and the public about the role tourism plays in Montana.

"For every dollar we spend (promoting Montana), the return on investment from nonresident visitors is $50," said Racene Friede, executive director of the Glacier Country tourism bureau. "And for every dollar visitors spend, 75 cents goes to a local community."

By DIANE COCHRAN – for the Ravalli Republic RavalliRepublic.com

Full Story: http://www.ravallirepublic.com/business/local/6a77503e-29ca-11e0-8747-001cc4c002e0.html