Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, University of Montana

Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, University of Montana The Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research conducts travel and recreation research in Montana.

Last week, our team had a blast at the 2026 Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism in Great Falls! It was wonderful ca...
09/24/2026

Last week, our team had a blast at the 2026 Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism in Great Falls!

It was wonderful catching up with partners from across the state, sharing about our work, and getting to explore Great Falls, from Giant Springs State Park to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to the famous Sip 'n Dip and more.

Shout-out to the Montana Department of Commerce and Visit Great Falls Montana for putting on a fantastic event!

09/17/2026

Why do visitors come to Montana? In 2025, visitors came to Montana to experience mountains and forests, open spaces, rivers, lakes, wildlife, and more.

Can't beat an office view like that!�Sightseeing on your commute. Maybe some wildlife friends along the way. Conversatio...
09/10/2026

Can't beat an office view like that!�

Sightseeing on your commute. Maybe some wildlife friends along the way. Conversations with Montanans and world travelers alike. AND you're contributing to travel and recreation research too.

Sounds too good to be true? It's not…apply to join our survey team!

We're hiring part-time surveyors in the Shelby, Glasgow, Flathead/Kalispell, and Bozeman areas.

As a surveyor, you'll conduct visitor and resident travel surveys and gather insights into people's experiences across Montana.

👉 Find position details and application instructions on our website: https://www.umt.edu/tourism-recreation-research/employment/employment-public.php

Did you know? Travel and tourism support 52,610 Montana jobs (that's 1 in every 11 jobs 🤯)!
09/03/2026

Did you know? Travel and tourism support 52,610 Montana jobs (that's 1 in every 11 jobs 🤯)!

09/02/2026

We're proud to support the Get Grant Ready program. Check it out!

08/25/2026

HBD to the National Park Service – the big 110 🎉! And happy  🌲! Montana may be best known for Yellowstone and Glacier, but did you know the state is home to 10 official NPS units? 

Have you visited any of these sites? Here’s how many folks did in 2025 👇

- Glacier National Park: 3.1M visitors
- Yellowstone National Park: 4.8M visitors
- Big Hole National Battlefield: 40,938 visitors
- Nez Perce National Historical Park: 343,910 visitors (38 sites across MT, ID, OR & WA)
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site: 23,520 visitors
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument: 42,405 visitors
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area: 228,382 visitors
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site: 9,808 visitors
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail: winding through Montana on its 4,900-mile route
- Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail: tracing ~16,000 square miles across MT, ID, WA & OR

(Source: National Park Service)

Aloha! 🌺 Our crew just wrapped up at Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oahu, HI, surveying visitors about their experien...
08/20/2026

Aloha! 🌺

Our crew just wrapped up at Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oahu, HI, surveying visitors about their experiences, activities, and spending habits. This work — part of our ongoing collaboration with Otak Inc., RRC Associates, and Gaia Environmental Consulting — gives the National Park Service (NPS) current data on park visitors and insight into the social and economic impact on neighboring communities.

It's been a busy summer, with surveying efforts at five different NPS sites, including Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Yellowstone National Park, San Juan Island National Historic Park, and Lewis and Clark National Historic Park.

The team also made time for adventure — shark diving (hello tiger shark season!). The trip was a success, and everyone made it back with all fingers and toes intact. 🦈

08/13/2026

Phil gets it.

Do you have a research project idea? We want to hear from YOU!

We’re looking for research ideas that are either statewide in scope or provide an opportunity to case-study local areas, so others can learn from their successes and challenges.

Submit your idea: https://umt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4YlPBqoKkmRqXoG

08/12/2026

Have a community project idea, but are not sure how to shape, explain, or prepare it for funding? We've created TWO free virtual opportunities designed to help rural Montana communities develop stronger, more fundable projects.

GET GRANT READY - This is a FREE, one-hour virtual workshop that helps you turn a project idea into a clear, actionable plan and prepare it for grant funding using a practical project-development template. This workshop is open to anyone!
WHEN: October 1, 2026, 11:00a.m. (MST) [Registration Link in the Bio]

PROJECT PITCH FEST - This is a FREE virtual coaching opportunity for selected rural Montana communities, offering one-on-one guidance and expert feedback to help individuals refine a project idea, strengthen their story, and prepare for funding.

- Must be a rural, underserved Montana community with a population under 5,000. Project should be focused on nature, outdoor recreation or a community initiative. Must be registered for and attend the Get Grant Ready Workshop.

- APPLICATIONS DUE: September 21, 2026 (5:00 p.m. MST) - Five qualified communities will be selected and notified by September 24. [Application Link in the Bio]

- October 1, 2026: Attend Get Grant Ready Workshop
- October 5: Optional Meet & Greet Brainstorm Session
- October 7-13: Two One-on-One Coaching Sessions
- October 15: Project Pitch Fest with the Community Cohort and advising experts from 12:30–3:00p.m. (MST)

Co-Hosted by Outdoor Community Partners and Heart of the Rockies Initiative

Sponsored by Trust for Public Land, Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, University of Montana, First Security Bank Missoula

Address

32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT
59812

Telephone

+14062435686

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, University of Montana posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, University of Montana:

Shortcuts

Share

Category