Economic Data

As visitors to southwestern Montana start to voice their opinion regarding Montana FWP's decision to disproportionally harvest wolves from WMU's 313 and 316, they are making it clear as to if they want to spend their money here. ​Here are a few economic highlights with respect to recreational tourism in our area (for more data, see here) and the impact that wild places have on it.​​

• One and only year-round driving entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

• 22% of all labor income fueled by travel, tourism and recreation.

• Park County alone generates roughly $500,000,000 in tourism revenue annually. To put that in perspective, all of Park County's annual agricultural revenue runs at about $34,000,000 ($24m in livestock and $10m in crops). Based on the 2021 estimated predation losses (of all kinds), less than .075 percent of that revenue was lost to predation. The annual "value" of a Yellowstone wolf is $500,000 to the local economy. Accordingly, in 2022, the recreational tourism economy lost $10,000,000 in "wolves", accounting for at least 33% of overall revenue.

• Lodging/accommodation wages and revenue are the largest economic category in our region. Lodging tax revenue for Park County, driven in large part to Yellowstone National Park visitation, in 2021 generated almost $3,400,000 for Montana's general fund, various heritage programs and recreational use programs, including FWP. 

• Small business proprietors (or self-employment) represents a significant portion of all employment in Park County, accounting for 39% of all jobs in 2014.  This has grown over the last decade from about one-third of all jobs before 2000 and this growth has been entirely among non-farm proprietors.  Statewide in Montana proprietors accounted for 27% of all jobs in 2014, up only slightly from 26% in 2000. 

• A 2017 survey of non-resident tourists visiting Montana shows the time spent on various activities ranked as:

  • 56% Scenic driving

  • 36% Day hiking

  • 34% Wildlife watching

  • 29% Nature photography

  • 26% Camping

  • 24% Recreational shopping

  • 19% Visiting other historical sites

  • 17% Visiting local brewery

  • 12% Visiting museums

  • 12% Visiting Lewis & Clark sites

  • 9% Fishing / Fly Fishing

• As the rate of tourism goes up or down, which business/retail categories categories are impacted the most (ranked in descending order according to the State Department of Commerce expenditure categories):​

  • Gasoline Outlets (e.g. Town Pump)​

  • Restaurant & Bars

  • Hotel & Motel

  • Outfitter & Guides

  • Retail Sales

  • Grocery Stores

  • Auto Rentals

  • Rental Lodging

  • Campground & RV Parks

  • Vehicle Repairs

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* See Park County Community Foundation website for further local economic data and Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group on local recreational use data.