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Chamber exec: Tourism still alive and well in Montana – Exchange rates a plus

January 9, 2005 /

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With 10 out-of-state visitors last year for every person who lives in Montana, tourism remains a vital cog in the state’s economy.

That was the message from Betsy Baumgart, administrator of the Montana Promotion Division, and other state travel professionals in a presentation at the Montana Chamber of Commerce Business Days at the Capitol this week.

By JOHN HARRINGTON – IR Business Editor

Full Story: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2005/01/09/business/e01010905_01.txt

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Exchange rate may alter flow of tourists in Montana’s favor

By JAMES E. LARCOMBE Tribune Business Editor

Over the Labor Day weekend, Gayle and Steve Knudson of Great Falls packed up their two children and headed for Lethbridge, Alberta, and a popular indoor water park.

"We just wanted to get out of town, and we felt we were going to get more entertainment for our money up in Canada," said Gayle Knudson, a manager at the Great Falls Clinic.

These days, the Knudson family and plenty of other Montanans might think twice before heading north. Thanks to a weakened U.S. dollar, trips to Canada aren’t as much of a bargain as they have been in recent years.

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050109/NEWS01/501090302/1002