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Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

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.

Submissions from 2024 2024

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

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

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

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

ITRR Annual Report - 2023, Melissa Weddell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Montana Travel Industry - 2023 Summary, Melissa Weddell

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

Submissions from 2023 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resident Participation in Outdoor Recreation: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, and Matthew Pettigrew

Snowmobile Recreation in Western Montana, Liam Harry and Melissa Weddell

The Event at Rebecca Farm 2023, Kalispell, Montana, Ava Worbets, Hunter Tillman, and Megan Schultz

The Montana Travel Industry - 2022 Summary, Melissa Weddell

Understanding Visitor Recreation Experiences on Montana's Public Lands, Kara Grau, Megan Schultz, Glenna Brown, and Melissa Weddell

Yellowstone Harvest Festival, Livingston, Montana, Ava Worbets, Hunter Tillman, and Megan Schultz

Submissions from 2022 2022

2021 Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures, & Economic Impact Estimates, Kara Grau

Dino Shindig 2022, Carter County Museum, Megan Tanner Schultz

Montana Residents: Attitudes Towards Tourism 2021, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, and Matthew Pettigrew

Montana Travel Experience Survey, 2021 Interim Report, Kara Grau

Montana Travel Experience Survey: Summary Report, Kara Grau

Montana Trends: Montanans' Consumer Confidence & Expectations for Income, Travel, and Recreation, Carter Bermingham, Matthew Pettigrew, Megan Schultz, and Josh Martin

Montana Workforce Study - 2022, Carter Bermingham, Matthew Pettigrew, Megan Schultz, and Josh Martin

The Montana Travel Industry 2021, Melissa Weddell

Submissions from 2021 2021

2020 Economic Contribution of Nonresident Travel Spending in Montana Travel Regions, Kara Grau

2020 Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures & Economic Impact Estimates, Kara Grau

Montana Public Land Use - Quarterly Montana Resident Report, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, Matthew Pettigrew, and Glenna Hartman

Montana Resident Travel Trend: 4th of July, 2021, Carter Bermingham and Megan Schultz

Montana Resident Travel Trend: Memorial Day Weekend, 2021, Carter Bermingham and Megan Schultz

Montana Travel Experience Survey, 2021-2022, preliminary draft, Kara Grau

Projected Impact of Visitor Limitations in Glacier National Park, Glenna Hartman, Elena A. Bigart, and Jeremy L. Sage

Recreate Responsibly: Montanans' Confidence & Perceptions When Recreating Outdoors, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, and Matthew Pettigrew

Residents' Attitudes Towards Tourism - 4th Quarter 2020, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz, and Kara Grau

Social Media and Its Impact on Travelers to Montana, Carter Bermingham, Glenna Hartman, and Jeremy L. Sage