The Institute for Tourism and Recreational Research at the University of Montana predicts the state will see a 2 percent increase in nonresident visitors this year.
Director Norma Nickerson said this year will get the state back to normal tourism growth following a 6.4 percent decline in 2008 and flat growth last year.
But she said it's unclear if out-of-state visitors will increase their spending.
"That's the one thing I'm not going to project," she said. "I'm not sure when or if that's going to change."
Montana travel director Betsy Baumgart said spending at hotels, restaurants and retail stores was down last year — as much as 30 percent in some areas.
She said that could continue this year as people travel but look to reduce spending.
"The good news is people still want to travel," she said. "They're trading down, but they're not willing to trade out."
National parks tend to do well in down economies, and that could bring in tourists to Montana.
"(National parks are) a marvelous bargain when you think about it," Nickerson said.
Early signs at the Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig appear to indicate a busy tourism season there, said co-owner John Arnold. The shop offers guided fishing trips, lodging, boat rentals and more.
"Our bookings are outstanding for this summer," Arnold said.
He said that in the last two years, fly-fishing tourists shortened their trips to save money. He said that trend appears to have ended this year.
"Now the duration of the trips seem to be a little longer," Arnold said.
He also said more corporate fishing trips are being booked.
"In the last two years, with the corporate downfall, those people have been nonexistent," he said. "In our business, that's a big part of making for a good year."
Others in the tourism industry are seeing good signs as well for the Montana summer tourist season.
"We're thinking it's going to be a good one," said Deryk Copperwheat, president of the Great Falls Lodging Association and general manager of the Town House Inn. "People are spending again."
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Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com
Copyright 2010 AP News
