Tribal Tourism | Montana Department of Commerce

TRIBAL TOURISM MONTANA

Going on vacation to Montana? Access the official VisitMT website.

TRIBAL TOURISM GOALS

Elevate brand recognition through:

Publications
Marketing
Content creation and advertising
Feature Montana’s native talent in national and international campaigns

Expand Montana’s tribal tourism industry into measurable economic benefits for tribal nations and inspire visitation through:

Identifying assets and resources
Investment and partnership opportunities
Targeted sponsorships and grants
Promotion of experiences, events, historical locations and businesses

Information

This website is a resource for the development and promotion of the Indian Tourism Region in Montana, established by Senate Bill 309 of the 65th Montana Legislature in 2017.

The Indian Tourism Region includes all reservations in Montana as well as other locations significant to tribes with a modern or historical connection to Montana.

TRIBAL TOURISM FUNDING

Senate Bill 309 allocates 0.5% of Montana’s Lodging Facility Use Tax collections to develop and promote the Indian Tourism Region. Promotions include paid media such as advertising, earned media such as hosting visits by journalists and photographers to Indian Country and the production of owned media, such as visitmt.com and editorial content.

Additionally, the Montana Department of Commerce funds a full-time tribal tourism officer and various grant programs for which tribal governments and enrolled tribal citizens may be eligible to apply.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM

Tourism is one of Montana’s leading industries. According to estimates by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana, 13.7 million visitors added over $5 billion to the state’s economy in 2024, with 38,240 jobs supported by travel and tourism. The impact isn’t only limited to hotels and car rentals — it includes businesses of all kinds, such as artisan entrepreneurs who are members of Made in Montana, Grown in Montana and Native American Made in Montana.

Grant

TRIBAL TOURISM GRANT

Thank you for your interest in the Tribal Tourism Grant for tribal governing bodies, which opens annually Oct. 1-Nov. 30. Please check the Office of Indian Country Economic Development website for other funding opportunities. This year’s grant cycle budget is approximately $150,000, with a maximum award amount of $50,000 to tribal governments of Montana for eligible tourism projects, and a 50% matching requirement.

FINANCIAL and TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Native American Made in Montana is for producers of products for sale. Native American Made in Montana is a free program in which members receive the ability to use a branded label, a website listing and apply to exhibit at the annual Made in Montana Trade Show for food and gifts.
Tribal Tourism Grant Programs are available to tribal governments. These reimbursement grant programs fund shovel-ready tourism-related projects such as arts, culture and heritage preservation, visitor facility upgrades and construction as well as niche product development.
The Tribal Tourism Small Business Grant helps enrolled tribal citizens of a Montana tribe to startup or expand tourism businesses in Montana. A total of $240,000 in funding is available for fiscal year 2025. Approximately 24 awards will be granted, averaging three per tribal nation.

FISCAL YEAR 2026 TTG GUIDELINESAPPLY FOR TRIBAL TOURISM GRANT

OKTA INSTRUCTIONS

CONSUMER MARKETING

Indian Country Guidebook: Developed by the Office of Indian Country Economic Development in Commerce’s Business MT Division in partnership with Commerce’s Brand MT Division team and in association with the tribes in Montana. Limited quantities of hard copies have been distributed across the state; a digital download is available at visitmt.com.
Indian Country at visitmt.com: The state’s official travel website.
- Receive instructions to claim your visitmt.com business listing.

RESEARCH

"Interest in Native American Tourism Assets” (Destination Analysts): Available to Montana tourism organizations by request.
“Montana Destination Brand Research Study” (Destination Analysts): Available to Montana tourism organizations by request.
Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research
- Report: “Indian Country Cultural and Heritage Tourism”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

“Linking Communities, Tourism & Conservation: A Tourism Assessment Process” — George Washington University
"National Guidelines: Indigenous Cultural Experiences" — Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
“Resources for the Recreation Economy” and Q & A from the webinar — American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association

Partners

In addition to the Indian Tourism Region, Montana is organized into six geographic tourism regions, each of which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting its area — including Indian Country. By working together, tribal communities and tourism regions may maximize their impact.

The following tourism regions include reservations:

Forms

The OICED Tribal Tourism Grant Programs are exclusively for the Tribal Governments in Montana. For those Tribal Council staff authorized to submit requests for reimbursement of eligible grant project expenses, please complete all three forms below, including all receipts and invoice, and email them to doctribal@mt.gov or rachelle.brown@mt.gov. Please call 406-841-2734 if you have any questions.

Note: Incomplete forms, missing receipts or expenses incurred outside the scope of the contractual terms of the grant award will either be denied, not processed or will delay the reimbursement of funds.