HELENA -- As COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen, tourism in Helena is beginning to see a slight resurgence with hotel occupancy making a short climb from April to May of this year.
According to the Helena Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels around the area saw a jump of a little under 10% in occupancy between April and May of this year, as visitor quarantine restrictions were lifted in mid-May. Mike Mergenthaler, Director of the Bureau says the jump in hotel occupancy is a step in the right direction, but is far from the average of about 60% occupancy that hotels around the area normally see for this time of year.
"At least it was a step in the right direction, and I kind of feel like that's what we're going to continue to see is, just that those small increases and those small steps in the right direction," said Mergenthaler. "I don't think by any means, we're going to see June or July as being normal the way that they were in past years."
