The Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research at the University of Montana conducts travel and recreation research in Montana, with a primary focus on the nonresident travel survey conducted throughout the state. The Institute produces widely used statewide estimates of total nonresident visitation and travel expenditures, visitor characteristics in the state each year, and annual estimate of the economic contribution of nonresident travel to Montana's economy. The research and creative scholarship by the faculty of the Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research includes studies into the social and environmental impacts of tourism; regional and community tourism planning and development; niche market studies; geotourism; and outdoor recreation.

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Submissions from 2025

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2024 Estimates - Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures, and Economic Contribution, Kara Grau

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2025 Montana Tourism Outlook: Balancing Innovation and Tradition - Montana Economic Seminar Presentation, Melissa Weddell

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Clark Fork River Pedal & Farm Tour 2025, Trout Creek, Montana, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford, and Megan Schultz

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Crazy Mountain Fiber Fest 2025, Sweet Grass County, Montana, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford, and Megan Schultz

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Economic Contribution of 2023/2024 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending in Montana Travel Regions and Counties, Kara Grau

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Harnessing Data to Shape Montana's Tourism Narrative – 2024 Montana Governor's Conference, Melissa Weddell, Kara Grau, and Megan Schultz

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Impacts and Insights: Assessing the Aftermath of Yellowstone’s 500-Year Flood in Montana, Melissa Weddell, Kara Grau, Patrick Holland-Stergar, Christina S. Barsky, and Lauren K. McKeague

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Montana Agritourism in 2024: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing Landscape, Glenna Hartman, Elena Bigart, Ava Worbets, Hilary Faxon, and Melissa Weddell

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Montana Folk Festival 2025, Butte, Montana, Rachel Baer, Ava Worbets, and Kika Bradford

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Montana Hot Springs 2024 – Insights from Mobile Location Data, Kika Bradford

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Montana International Choral Festival 2025, Missoula County, Montana, Matthew Matz, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford, and Megan Schultz

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Montana Resident Report: Consumer Confidence and Expectations for Income, Travel, and Recreation Over the Next 12 Months, Q2 2025, Carter Bermingham and Megan Schultz

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Montana Resident Report: In-State and Out-of-State Travel Q2 2024, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Jayce Beck

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Montana Resident Report: Participation in Outfitted and Guided Outdoor Recreation and Sports Tourism Within Montana, Carter Bermingham and Megan Schultz

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Montana Residents' Attitudes Towards Tourism - 2024, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Jayce Beck

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NACAA AM/PIC Conference 2025, Billings, Montana, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford, and Megan Schultz

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The Changing Landscape of Eastern Montana: Trends and Insights 2024, Melissa Weddell, Glenna Hartman, Elena Bigart, Kara Grau, Matthew Pettigrew, Ava Worbets, and Sophie Morris

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The Missed Connection: Why Some Travelers Choose Not to Visit Montana, Kika Bradford, Glenna Hartman, Matthew Pettigrew, and Melissa Weddell

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The Montana Travel Industry - 2024 Summary, Melissa Weddell

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The Road to Montana: Exploring the Decision Paths to Visiting Montana, Kika Bradford, Glenna Hartman, Matthew Pettigrew, and Melissa Weddell

Submissions from 2024

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2023 Estimates - Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures, and Economic Contribution, Kara Grau

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2024 BBER Economic Seminar - Montana Tourism Outlook Presentation, Melissa Weddell

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Clark Fork River Pedal & Farm Tour, Plains, Montana, Kika Bradford, Megan Schultz, and Rebekah Ficek

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Cooke City – Summer/Winter Visitor Data, Kara Grau, Melissa Weddell, and Sophie Morris

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East Helena Valley Rodeo 2024, East Helena, Montana, Kika Bradford and Megan Schultz

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Economic Contribution of 2022/2023 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending in Montana Travel Regions and Counties, Kara Grau

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ITRR Annual Report - 2023, Melissa Weddell

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ITRR Presentation: Latest Updates for the Tourism Advisory Council (TAC), October 2024, Melissa Weddell

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MontanaFair 2024, Billings, Montana, Kika Bradford, Megan Schultz, and Rebekah Ficek

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Montana Folk Festival 2024, Butte, Montana, Kika Bradford and Megan Schultz

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Montana Resident Report: Tourism Impacts and Perceptions of Recreation and Visitor Behavior Q1 2024, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Glenna Hartman

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Montana Residents' Attitudes Towards Tourism - 2023, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, and Matthew Pettigrew

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Montana's Trail to the Stars: Understanding Stargazing in Eastern Montana and Beyond, Carter Bermingham, Ava Worbets, and Melissa Weddell

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Smeltermen's Day Weekend 2024, Anaconda, Montana, Kika Bradford and Megan Schultz

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The Green Rush – How Montana's Outdoor Economy Fuels Sustainable Tourism, Melissa Weddell

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The Montana Travel Industry - 2023 Summary, Melissa Weddell

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The Resilient Rebound of Tourism to Sustainable Levels, Melissa Weddell and Kara Grau

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Unveiling the Power of Tourism Research: Navigating Insights from Montana for 2024 and Beyond, Melissa Weddell, Kara Grau, and Matthew Pettigrew

Submissions from 2023

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2022 Estimates - Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures, and Economic Contribution, Kara Grau

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2022 Resident Visitation: Yellowstone National Park & Glacier National Park, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Glenna Brown

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Applications of Travel and Tourism Research - 2023 Montana Governor's Conference, Melissa Weddell, Jim Auer, Matthew Pettigrew, and Kara Grau

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Assessing the Impact of the Yellowstone TV Series on Montana's Tourism Economy, Patrick Barkey and Melissa Weddell

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Gardiner Rodeo 2023, Gardiner, Montana, Ava Worbets and Megan Schultz

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ITRR Annual Report - 35 Years - 1987-2022, Melissa Weddell

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ITRR Presentation to Tourism Advisory Council, October 2023, Melissa Weddell

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Montana Folk Festival 2023, Butte, Montana, Ava Worbets, Hunter Tillman, and Megan Schultz

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Montana Residents: Attitudes Towards Tourism 2022 & Resident Perceptions of Community Disaster Preparedness, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Glenna Brown

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Montana Travel Experience Survey - Final Summary Report, Glenna Brown, Kara Grau, and Megan Schultz

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Montana Travel Region & Counties - Economic Contribution of 2021/2022 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending, Kara Grau

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Montana Travel Regions & Counties - Economic Contribution of 2019/2021 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending, Kara Grau