Visitor numbers down at Glacier National Park

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Aug 17, 2008 at 5:50 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 17, 2008 at 5:50 PM MST

KALISPELL - The National Park Service says visits to Glacier National Park were down 8.6% for the first seven months of 2008.

With a drop of 2.5% for the month of July, the park has had 1.09 million visitors this year, down from 1.18 million for the first seven months of 2007. The decline was sharpest in June, with 3.76% fewer visitors for the month and 14% fewer visitors for the first six months of the year.

Glacier Country Executive Director Racene Friede says this year's later-than-usual opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road on July 2 had an impact on the decrease in visitors. Friede and others say the struggling national economy and high fuel prices also had an effect on tourism in the region this year.

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