More than two million people visited Glacier National Park in 2009 – a more than 12 percent increase from the year before.
The national park reported 2,031,347 visitors last year compared to 1,808,027 in 2008. Since 1995, it has broken the two million mark only two other times — in 2004 and 2007.
Total overnight stays increased by 15 percent, including a 52 percent increase in backcountry overnight stays and 29 percent in recreational vehicle stays. Glacier had more visitors at every entrance compared to 2008, with substantial increases of 29 percent at Many Glacier, 13 percent at St. Mary and 10 percent at West Glacier.
Jan Metzmaker, executive director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau, says the organization has been effective in attracting empty nesters and retired professionals who have money to spend and time to spend it.