Contact: Mary Boyle

Montana Promotion Division

406-444-1356

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE’S TRAVEL MONTANA LAUNCHES

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT CAMPAIGN

Helena, MT – April 30, 2002 --“Tourism-Good for Montanans-Good for Montana” is the slogan for the new public service announcement campaign that will air on Montana television and radio stations from May 6 through August 4, 2002. The PSAs are intended to educate Montanans on the importance of tourism to the state. This will be the first time Travel Montana has embarked on this type of public education promotion.

This campaign came in response to a 2000 resident attitude survey conducted by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) at the University of Montana. The ITRR report showed that 74% of Montanans felt they had been exposed to “some” or “no” information on tourism’s economic effects.

“We believe these PSAs will be a jumping-off point to begin to show Montanans that their tourism industry has a huge positive economic impact on their lives and their communities,” said Betsy Baumgart, administer for the Montana Department of Commerce promotion division. “Montana’s tourism industry is a success story. We want to get the word out and let people know it is working for them.”

Montana hosted nearly 9.6 million nonresident visitors in 2001. These visitors spent $1.75 billion on retail, hotel and food in Montana’s towns and cities. Tourism directly and indirectly supports 32,200 Montana jobs with an annual personal income of $563 million.

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****News Editors and Directors: This press release is available for your use on Travel Montana’s Website: <travelmontana.state.mt.us> “News & Updates” Press Release Section****