Yellowstone Times

Montana’s tourism industry has been undoubtedly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but uncertainly remains about how things will look after it is over. 

The U.S. Travel Association is projecting a $400 billion decline in travel spending in the country this year, with the steepest losses occurring in April. In fact, April is expected to see $80 billion loss in travel industry revenue, a $183 billion loss in total economic output and the loss of 5.9 million travel-supported jobs. 

The gloomy statistics is something the travel industry isn’t used to; the predicted revenue losses from coronavirus is even seven times more than what was lost after 9/11.

“[It’s] all new territory,” Norma Nickerson, director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana, told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “And nobody knows what to think about it.”

According to the Chronicle, Montana’s outdoor recreation economy supports more than 71,000 jobs and accounts for $7.1 billion in consumer spending.

While there is optimism among people whose livelihoods depend on attracting tourists to the area, they all must play the waiting game to gauge what it means for the immediate and far future of their business.

“I feel it will be a tough summer regardless of how this shakes out,” Matt Swan, a fishing outfitter and guide based in Park County, told the Chronicle.