Be careful what you wish for. Now organizations are beginning to wonder how to apply the brakes on the surge of tourists.

Since the start of the pandemic, tourists have surged into Montana, bringing dollars but also environmental damage and crowding. Now that the floodgates have opened, tourism experts are struggling with how to dial back the crush.

On Monday, City Club Missoula hosted a panel discussion on “Destination Stewardship: How can we keep from “loving Montana to death?” The four guests – all of whom are associated with the tourism industry – said the sudden growth in the numbers of tourists coming to Montana have them scrambling to try to figure out what to do.

By Laura Lundquist

City Club returns to in person luncheons at the Double Tree in June!