Updates given on tourism, vaccines, Forest Service projects

Seeley Lake Community Council

SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Community Council heard updates regarding tourism, vaccines and projects on the Seeley Lake Ranger District during their monthly meeting Monday, April 12. Fire Board candidates Alyssa McLean and Kristy Pohlman also shared a little more about why they are running for the Seeley Lake Fire District Board of Trustees in the May 4 election.

Racene Friede, President and CEO of Glacier Country, discussed trends in Western Montana tourism and expectations for the 2021 season.

Prior to the pandemic in 2019, 12.6 million non-resident visitors traveled to Montana where in total they put $5.6 billion dollars into the state economy. Residents themselves spent $1.1 billion on one day and multi-day trips in the state.

According to Friede, even after a fairly strong rebound last summer, travel spending was down in the state by 19%. In 2020, visitation fell 12% which resulted in a 20% decrease in lodging tax collections across the state and a 25% decrease in Missoula County particularly.

According to the most recent national consumer survey, 64% of responders said they are ready to travel now. However, 41% of those responders also said they felt unsafe doing activities like group tours and traveling via airline or bus. Others are also unsure about sporting events, festivals, conferences and other indoor activities.

Those planning to travel intend to hit the road between June and October. Friede said the concern over the pandemic will actually play out in favor of rural areas like Seeley Lake because visitors will feel more comfortable traveling to small towns and regional parks.

“Nationwide, people are still seeking healthy and safe destinations, those wide-open spaces,” Friede said. “They’re looking for a high quality of life and experiences and the one thing that we are seeing, especially since COVID, is they are looking for broadband. Because unlike prior to the pandemic, people no longer have to stay in one location to work and to learn.”

She said they intend to market Montana and the region to not only non-resident visitors but also residents and visitors who are already here.

“The message is just not about coming here, but now includes our expectations of them when they are here, and how to do it,” Friede said.

Glacier National Park has experienced record visitation the last several years, but that has also resulted in some congestion issues. Park staff will be working with the Montana Department of Transportation to communicate delays to visitors. The Park is also putting in a ticketed entry system between May 28 and Sept. 6. It will be active 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and is intended to help traffic flow.

Airline recovery in Montana is twice the size of the national average. According to Friede, airlines have been organizing more direct flights for the airports in Missoula, Bozeman and Glacier Park to the point where they are seeing the most capacity they have ever seen. The downside is that there is a nationwide rental car shortage and that could result in transportation difficulties.

Friede responded to a comment about how Seeley Lake would be affected now that its two main motels have been converted into housing for Paws Up employees. She said it would definitely have an impact on the community and would create some lodging difficulty among tourists who are not visiting friends or family and are not bringing a camper with them.

Responding to a comment regarding legalized recreational marijuana’s impact on tourism, Friede said that areas with legalized recreational use experienced a whole new tourism market open immediately after legalization.

Nick Holloway, Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) vaccination program project manager, reviewed the current state of the county’s vaccine programs. According to him, 32,800 county residents have been fully immunized out of 99,800 residents who are eligible, ages 16 and older. With the Pfizer vaccine now available to those 16 and older, Holloway said they will be actively marketing the vaccine to 16 through 18-year-olds in local school districts.

The target for herd immunity is having 75% of the population fully vaccinated.

Holloway recommended visiting covid19.missoula.co for more information about vaccine availability and clicking the “Get Vaccinated” button to book an appointment at a public clinic or vaccine provider.

He said currently Seeley Lake does not have a registered provider, but MCCHD is working with Partnership Health Center to allow them to provide doses at least one day a week. This is based on demand.

“In the meantime, the vaccine has never been more readily available than it is now down in Missoula,” Holloway said. “I hope to get some more of them up [to Seeley Lake] soon, but if you are planning a trip to Missoula, you can schedule ahead of time a vaccination in one of our mass clinics.”

During his presentation, Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver said the District is bracing for a massive influx of tourists this year similar to last year. They have a plan in place to build overflow camping out of the West Side Trailhead. Carver also said they feel more prepared with staff this summer. They intend to have campsites up and running by Memorial Day.

Two of the four candidates running for Seeley Lake Rural Fire District spoke about why they were running and what their individual experiences were.

McLean has lived in the area for four years. She said her compassion for people and familiarity with fire departments in general are huge assets. She also has experience in accounting and management and has a love for technology and research.

She describes herself as an idealist and is optimistic about the fire department’s future. She hopes to bring fresh eyes and ideas to aspects like volunteerism and community outreach by connecting the department to members of the community.

Pohlman said she has around 14 years of experience between fire and EMS. She co-owns a business with her husband and works as a third grade teacher at Seeley Lake Elementary School.

She is involved with the East Missoula and Potomac Fire Departments and has previously served on boards. Like McLean she hopes to bring fresh ideas and increase community engagement with the department.

To view the recording of the Council meeting visit https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/enHi4AmQSXWiivQWNALrGi9bu1I1BOh0DWId19NPl1ieWl48YW8wGw64Q0ttmeYV.iLqapocfQhsfDxFb Passcode: q9.bV0qI.

The next council meeting is at 6 p.m. May 10.

 

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