During the past two years, nonresident tourists visiting Montana spent an estimated $5.28 billion in the Treasure State annually, a roughly 9% decrease from the previous two years but one of the highest estimates on record.

That’s according to a new report by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) at the University of Montana , which examined nonresident spending during 2023 and 2024. Compared to the last two-year study, covering 2022 and 2023, average annual nonresident spending at gas stations, local restaurants, hotels and other tourism-oriented businesses decreased by roughly $540 million.

The latest data release tracks with an earlier report this year that showed Montana welcomed an all-time record number of tourists in 2024 — by a million — but saw a r

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