Visitor spending is a necessary component of economic-impact analysis, but detailed expenditure categories rarely are reported and used as tools for marketing and policy decisions. This article shows that spending by visitors attracted to Montana’s natural resources accounted for 76% of traveler spending in the state. Average daily spending by visitors primarily attracted to fishing was the highest per-group per-trip expenditure ($1,641.26) and the longest length of stay (9.3 nights), with fishing outfitters and guides receiving the largest share of these visitors’ dollars. Visitors attracted to Glacier National Park had the highest total contribution of dollars to the state. Implications of the study suggest that conservation of Montana’s natural resources is paramount to a thriving tourism industry. Policies and regulations related to waterways, mountain view sheds, and open space need to reflect the important economic contribution of what attracts visitors to the state.
Andereck, K. L., E. Ng, and R. C. Knopf (2003). “Traveler Information Search: Differences between Internet Users and Non-Users.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
2.
Breen, H., A. Bull, and M. Walo (2001). “A Comparison of Survey Methods to Estimate Visitor Expenditure at a Local Event.”Tourism Management, 22 (5): 473-479.
3.
Bureau of Land Management (Producer, 1997). Blackfoot Challenge [Video tape]. Available from the National Applied Resources Sciences Center Video Production, (303) 236-6406.
4.
Chhabra, D. (2003). “Estimating Tourist Expenditures and Their Economic Impact: A Longitudinal Case Study of Sacramento County, California, USA.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
5.
Chhabra, D. (2004). “Economic Impact of Nature Tourism: A Case Study of Napa County, CA.”e-Review of Tourism Research, 2 (3): 51-55.
6.
Chhabra, D., E. Sills, and F. W. Cubbage (2003). “The Significance of Festivals to Rural Economies: Estimating the Economic Impacts of Scottish Highland Games in North Carolina.”Journal of Travel Research, 41 (4): 421-427.
7.
Crompton, J. L., S. Lee, and T. J. Shuster (2001). “A Guide for Undertaking Economic Impact Studies: The Springfest Example.”Journal of Travel Research, 40 (1): 79-87.
8.
Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse—How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York, NY: Viking Penguin Group.
9.
Dwyer, L., P. Forsyth, and R. Spurr (2005). “Estimating the Impacts of Special Events on an Economy.”Journal of Travel Research, 43 (4): 351-359.
10.
Faulkner, B., and M. Raybould (1995). “Monitoring Visitor Expenditure Associated with Attendance at Sporting Events: An Experimental Assessment of the Diary and Recall Methods.”Festival Management and Event Tourism, 3 (2): 73-81.
11.
Frechtling, D. C. (1994). “Assessing the Impacts of Travel and Tourism-Measuring Economic Benefits.” In Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Research, edited by J. R. Brent Ritchie and Charles Goeldner. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, pp. 437-450.
12.
Frechtling D. C., and E. Horvath (1999). “Estimating the Multiplier Effects of Tourism Expenditures on a Local Economy through a Regional Input-Output Model.”Journal of Travel Research, 37 (4): 324-332.
13.
Howard, D. R., S. V. Lankford, and M. E. Havitz (1991). “A Method for Authenticating Pleasure Travel Expenditures.”Journal of Travel Research, 29 (4): 19-23.
14.
Hwang, Y., and D. Fesenmaier (2002). “Self-Selection Biases in the Internet Survey: A Case Study of a Tourism Conversion Survey.” Retrieved June 27, 2005, from http://www.ttra.com/pub/uploads/009.pdf.
15.
Jackson, J., M. Houghton, R. Russell, and P. Triandos (2005). “Innovations in Measuring Economic Impacts of Regional Festivals: A Do-It-Yourself Kit.”Journal of Travel Research, 43 (4): 360-367.
16.
Johnson, D. G., and J. Sullivan (1993). “Economic Impacts of Civil War Battlefield Preservation: An Ex-Ante Evaluation.”Journal of Travel Research, 32 (1): 21-29.
17.
Kim, H., and A. M. Morrison (2003). “Examining and Understanding Differences of Destination Website Visitors and Non-Visitors.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
18.
Lovejoy, K. (2003). “Putting out the Welcome Mat.”Regional Review, 13 (2): 6-8.
19.
Mak, J. (2004). Tourism and the Economy: Understanding the Economics of Tourism. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.
20.
Martin, B., M. Thomas, S. Ibarra, and W. Norman (2003). “The Cullowhee Jazzfest: A University Sponsored Festival.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
21.
McElroy, K., M. Ismert, W. Norman, and L. Jodice (2005). “Behavior Segmentation of Coastal Visitors and the Relationship to the Five Phases of the Travel Experience: Results from the South Carolina Coastal Shrimp and Tourism Project.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 36th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
22.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission (2005). “Beaverhead and Big Hole River Recreation Rules.” Retrieved June 23, 2005, from http://fwp.state.mt.us/FwpPaperApps/fishing/management/bh_rulesa.doc.
23.
Nickerson, N. (2003). “Niche News: Designated Marketing Areas.” Retrieved June 28, 2005, from http://www.itrr.umt.edu/nichenews/dma.pdf. Missoula, MT: Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, University of Montana.
24.
Nickerson, N., B. Sutton, and A. Aronofsky (2002). “Nonresident All Year and Four Season Comparison: Visitor Profile.” Technical Report 2002-12. Missoula, MT: Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, University of Montana.
25.
Noh, J., C. Huh, and D. F. Holecek (2004). “Overnight Casino Travel Behavior of Great Lakes Area Residents: A Market Segmentation Analysis.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 35th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
26.
Okubo, S., and M. A. Planting (1998). “U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts for 1992.”Survey of Current Business. Washington, DC: Bureau of Economic Analysis. Retrieved June 20, 2005, from http://www.bea.gov/bea/articles/national/Inputout/1998/0798ied.pdf.
27.
Perez, E. A., and C. J. Sampol (2000). “Tourist Expenditure for Mass Tourism Markets.”Annals of Tourism Research, 27 (3): 624-637.
28.
Polzin, P. E. (2005). “Strong Economic Growth Continues in Montana.”Montana Business Quarterly, 43 (1): 6-18.
29.
Power, T. M. (1996). Lost Landscapes and Failed Economies. Washington, DC: Island Press.
30.
Ritchie, B. (1984). “Assessing the Impact of Hallmark Events: Conceptual and Research Issues.”Journal of Travel Research, 23 (1): 2-11.
31.
Scott, C., and B. Amenuvegbe (1990). “Effect of Recall Duration on Reporting of Household Expenditures: An Experimental Study in Ghana.” Working Paper No. 6. Washington DC: The World Bank.
32.
Smith, W. W. (2005). “Measuring the Economic Value of Tourism at the Regional Scale: The Case of the County of Grey.”e-Review of Tourism Research, 3 (2): 31-37.
33.
Stynes, D. J. (1998). Guidelines for Measuring Visitor Spending. East Lansing, MI: Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources, Michigan State University. Retrieved June 20, 2005, from http://www.msu.edu/%7Estynes/.
34.
Stynes, D. J., and E. Mahoney (1989). “Measurement and Analysis of Recreational and Travel Spending.” In Abstracts of the 1989 Symposium on Leisure Research. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association.
35.
Sun, Y. (2005). “Survey Biases from Three National Park Service Visitor Survey Projects.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 36th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
36.
Swanson, L. D., N. Nickerson, and J. Lathrop (2003). “Gateway to Glacier: The Emerging Economy of Flathead County.”Washington, DC: National Parks Conservation Association.
37.
Tasci, A. D., A. Aziz, and D. F. Holecek (2003). “Characteristics and Potential of Midwestern Package Travelers.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
38.
Taylor, D. T., R. R. Fletcher, and T. Clabaugh (1993). “A Comparison of Characteristics, Regional Expenditures, and Economic Impact of Visitors to Historical Sites with Other Recreational Visitors.”Journal of Travel Research, 32 (1): 30-35.
39.
Tyrrell, T. J., and R. J. Johnston (2001). “A Framework for Assessing Direct Economic Impacts of Tourist Events: Distinguishing Origins, Destinations, and Causes of Expenditures.”Journal of Travel Research, 40 (1): 94-100.
40.
Upneja, A., E. L Shafer, W. Seo, and J. Yoon (2001). “Economic Benefits of Sport Fishing and Angler Wildlife Watching in Pennsylvania.”Journal of Travel Research, 40 (1): 68-78.
41.
Vaughan, D. R., H. Farr, and R. W. Slee (2000). “Estimating and Interpreting the Local Economic Benefits of Visitor Spending: An Explanation.”Leisure Studies, 19 (2): 95-118.
42.
VisitMT (2005). “Invite a Friend.”Helena, MT: Department of Commerce, Montana Division of Travel and Film Promotion. Retrieved June 29, 2005, from http://www.visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/iaf/.
43.
Walker, J., and M. Joppe (2004). “The Economic Impact of Legal Gay Marriage on the Hospitality & Tourism Sector.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 35th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
44.
Wang, F. X., T. T. Tian, and S. Cook (2004). Impact of Travel on State Economies 2004 Edition. Washington DC: Travel Industry Association of America.
45.
Wilton, James J. (2004). The Economic Review of the Travel Industry in Montana: 2004 Biennial Edition. Missoula, MT: Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, University of Montana.
46.
Chhabra, D. (2003). “Estimating Tourist Expenditures and Their Economic Impact: A Longitudinal Case Study of Sacramento County, California, USA.” In Proceedings of the Travel and Tourism Research Association 34th Annual Conference. Boise, ID: Travel and Tourism Research Association.
47.
Chhabra, D. (2005). “Montana Residents on Tourism in the State: Trends in Attitudes 1998 to 2004.” Research Report 2005-5. Missoula, MT: Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, University of Montana.
48.
Zhou, Z. (2000). “The Impact of Memory on Expenditures Recall in Tourism Conversion Studies.”Journal of Travel Research, 38 (3): 303-307.
