The Spirit of Travel is Alive in Glacier Country

The past few months have been a challenging time for all of us. But one thing’s for certain—the spirit of travel is stronger than ever. Once it’s safe to get up and go again, we’ll be here to move America forward, rebuilding our economy, growing our workforce, boosting morale, inspiring dreams and welcoming travelers with open arms.

Montana communities rely on tourism. Photo: Andy Austin

National Travel Week is May 3 – 9, and, in Glacier Country, we’re celebrating the industry’s strength, selflessness and resiliency. Tourism is Montana’s second-largest industry, bringing in $3.64 billion in 2019. It’s our restaurants, retail shops, outfitters and guides, and other local businesses who are the heroes of the tourism industry—bringing tourism dollars and jobs to our communities.

In Glacier Country, 11.5% of all nonresident visitor spending went to retail.

In Montana, tourism supports 40,690 jobs directly and 15,440 indirectly, which equals $1.4 billion in worker salaries. Western Montana’s Glacier Country encompasses 75+ communities and receives about one-third of all tourism to the state, or more than 5 million visitors. Tourism helps improve the place we call home, and the quality of life for residents.

We love Montana. Our overall goal is to provide opportunities for our residents and communities. Photo: Andy Austin

Now, more than ever, the travel and tourism community must come together. The spirit of travel is one of the areas that will heal our country’s morale—it brings joy and memorable experiences to millions, year after year. It helps improve our health and connect us with our loved ones.