Tourism Commons^™

The Importance Of Traveler Spending On Locally Produced Goods And Services, Kara Grau, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

While a growing tourism industry is beneficial to the state, it is important that the industry grows in a way that is sustainable and desirable to the local people. One component of sustainability is the economic contribution made to the state while at the same time benefitting the local community by reducing the leakages of money. The results of this study showed that visitors who purchased ‘made in Montana’ products, items at local farmer’s markets, and who used local guides spent $184.76 more than those visitors who did not purchase those products and services. This significant difference in spending between …