Yellowstone Times

Montana's nonresident travelers increased spending in the state by 5.4% in 2019 compared to 2018, but with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting last February, much of this year's tourism has decreased, with the second quarter showing just over 20% of annual traveler spending. 

“What we expect to see, however, is a change in nonresident spending patterns for 2020,” Jeremy Sage, ITRR associate director, told University of Montana News. “For example, with nervousness about dining in, we expect higher spending in the grocery and snack categories and less in restaurants and bars.”

Restaurants, bars and accommodations are being hit hard by the pandemic, ITRR Director Norma Nickerson said. 

“A recent survey of tourism-related business – the fourth in a series of surveys – is showing that accommodation owners are still seeing cancellations and fewer reservations compared to the same months last year,” she told UM News.

Accommodation owners reported seeing a 52% decrease of visitors this August compared to last year's. Reservations for September are currently seeing a 61% decrease. 

“In general, however, visitors are waiting to make last-minute decisions on travel as they watch the number of COVID-19 cases go up or down and their comfort level of traveling changes based on those numbers,” Nickerson told UM News.