Published on : Saturday, May 2, 2020
As the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Week begins in the first week of May with the theme of “The Spirit of Travel”, this year, Montana’s industry leaders gather in Helena to explore the future of travel and tourism in the region.
Roger Dow, President, and CEO, U.S. Travel Association said in a recent press statement that he is often in awe of the travel industry’s ability to join together, adapt, and emerge stronger than before after every hardship. He mentioned that even though the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest challenge ever faced by the industry, the spirit of travel has not been shattered.
Racene Friede, President, and CEO, Glacier Country Tourism added that there is no doubt this has been an incredibly challenging time everyone involved in the travel industry. However, she mentions that industry professionals are seeing National Travel and Tourism Week as an opportunity to remind visitors and residents of the incredible spirit and resiliency of the travel industry and its workforce. She said it is only a matter of time before the industry gets moving again, and that Glacier Country will be more ready than ever to welcome travelers with open arms once again.
Tourism and recreation is the second largest industry in Montana. In 2018, more than 12 million visitors came to the state and spent more than $3.7 billion. That spending supported nearly 45,000 jobs and generated $230 million in state and local taxes. The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the graph of tourist visits and the industry has taken a direct hit.
According to state economists, the industry may also struggle to find itself once again and can take years to fully recover. However, industry experts continue to remain optimistic and are looking for ways to expedite the recovery.
On Tuesday, Montana’s tourism industry leaders will gather in Helena to promote the Spirit of Travel. They will also work to bring new attention to the role the industry can play in revitalising the local economy. All regions of the state will play a part in the recovery, each eager to get the industry back on track.