Butte News

Montana Office of Tourism seeks to replicate Butte's MT Folk Festival

Posted: Oct 8, 2012 6:30 PM by Katy Harris KXLF News
Updated: Oct 9, 2012 8:50 AM

Tourism industry members have their eyes on Butte.

They're taking a close look at how Butte puts on a really great festival.

For the last five years, the Montana Office of Tourism and tourism advisory council has been creating strategic tourism plans for the state. The groups are currently putting together a plan to draw tourists to the state in 2013.

The office of tourism has hired a research analysis firm to take a look at communities and how they attract tourism.

Open Window Consulting President Julie Cerenzia says the Montana Folk Festival is a prime example of attracting visitors to the state and should be replicated.

"Butte has been such a great festival town and the Folk Festival is such a success story. It's been great for Butte, for the economy, for the local community, and it's something that people throughout the state could replicate and could learn from."

The strategic plan for tourism in 2013 involves use of social media outlets.

Tourism industry members in Butte say using websites like Facebook and Twitter can spread the word about events.

The next series of tourism strategic plan meetings will be in Missoula and Kalispell this week.