Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-20
WEST WILL GET
MORE TOURISTS
EUROPE'S WAR WILL TURN RICH
TRAVEL REVENUES IN THIS
DIRECTION
l4O Million Dollars Normally Spent By
Travellers Abroad WIN Go to Western
Hemisphere During 1910 Season. Says
McKinnon.

war IN Europe Is certain to in
crease tourist travel In the west
during 1910, according to ID. A.
Mckinnon, state highway engineer,
who said that during 1888, s2I3,-
OOO,O00 was spent by tourists
abroad, and that of that amount.
66 percent went TO European coun-
tries now embrOiled I'm conflict.
Despite Montana's lack of an Off
cially recognized state tourist promo
ton department total of $23, 1863, 600
was expended here by travellers during
The 1899 season.
r. d. Fletcher, plans and designs
engineer for the department, said ac-
tual counts at the states port of entry
stations which operated from June Is
TO Sept. IS, showed 100000 persons
entered Montana during 1899.
MontanaS tourist traffic survey as
conducted by the state highway de-
partment lists statistics as follows
Number of cars entering state dur
ing year-317,5O
Number of persons entering state for
year-1 ole. 900.
Number of persons per car-3.2.
Total expenditure by tourists-$23,-
$4,000.
FOur-Day Average Stay
Proof that Montana travellers found
the Treasure state of great interest Is
disclosed in the 600-mile per stay aver
age Tailed by drivers. Added to this
was four-day average stay recorded
and an average expenditure per car
per day of $3.50. Average expenditures
per person per stay totaled $3.50 for
a total car expenditure of $3.50 a day
In the survey report the highway
states:
THE port of entry season showed
an increase of l1.3 percent over the
same period for 1888, and an increase
of 1.9 percent more than the record
year of 1897 Probably the major por-
ton of this increase was due to the
two worlds fairs, although there was
a decided decrease during the balance
Of the year. This should more than
offset the gain experienced during the
three-month summer season and re-
duced the total annual tourist expen-
diture within the state.
"At the present time 81 Of the 48
states have tourist traffic departments
that are spending large sums each
year for travel promotion. Montana
is one of the II states with no such |
recognized department. A
IN Montana's tourist business for 1899 |
IAN be attributed to this condition.
other states. through their we'll
financed advertising efforts, are pull |
ng the business away from us.
Have What Tourist Wants
Montana has what the tourist
wants. IF we are to increase or even |
lold our present business the state
must provide means to tell the world
If it."
McKinnon said the tourist business
throughout America reaches Sd billion
dollars a year-and to be probably sub
tantially augmented by the fact travel
las become war restricted.
"Other states have been aware OF /
he possibilities of tourist travel for
,ome time-and coupled with previous
Efforts no doubt plan to make strong |
Did for the war business" he said.
Canada, while in a state of war
herself, has already given notice no |
will be placed on bona fide |
,ourist travel. In the Ozark mountains, |
where 20 years ago tourist revenue was
10000, a total of 50 900 900 was secured |
asst year. Their increase was due vtr- |
,ually entirely on a strong publicity |
campaign.
Tennessee spent $4,000 in 1889,
ouying advertising space and further
ng other promotional plans, and re-
,eived more than twice that amount |
n increased gasoline taxes alone"
No Official Appropriation
He explained that Montana is with
nut an official appropriation to COM
oete with states whose appropriations
sach year range from $4,000 (Oregon)
% $4,000 (South Dakota.
The highway engineer pointed out
feature promotion" was being pushed
~ other states: Indians, sunshine,
;aveS, winter sports and similar fea-
ures used as tourist attractions.
Montana has all these and more"
le said. I'VE are cramped to a great
legree by the lack of facilities to go
field and compete with other states"
Montanans, Inc, the state chamber
# commerce, was credited with having
Iided greatly In boosting the state, as
veil as effortS-for the most part, in
Iefinite localitieS-of civic bodies, To-
ally sponsored tourist bureaus.
A limited sum has also been spent
" the highway department through
Examiners for publication of maps and
of the state board Of
Illustrated booklets.
In conclusion McKinnon reminded
6ontanans of the potentialitieS of in
reased travel through the strife in
EUROPE and expressed hope that 1910