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BUTTE- Tourism industry members are taking a close look at how Butte puts on a really great festival.

The Montana Office of Tourism and Tourism Advisory Council have been creating strategic tourism plans for the state over the last five years.

The office hired a research analysis firm to look at communities and how they attract tourism, and Butte's free admission Folk Festival, which stars musicians from around the world, is a good thing to emulate.

Open Window Consulting President Julie Cerenzia says the Montana Folk Festival is a prime example of attracting visitors to the state.

"Butte has been such a great festival town and the Folk Festival is such a success story. It's been great for Butte, for the economy, for the local community, and it's something that people throughout the state could replicate and could learn from."

The strategic plan for tourism in 2013 involves use of social media outlets.

Tourism industry members in Butte say using websites like Facebook and Twitter can spread the word about events.

The next series of tourism strategic plan meetings will be in Missoula and Kalispell this week.