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Montana's "Custer Country" tourism region is now known as "Southeast Montana."

According to Southeast Montana marketing manager Nick Mann, the decision to change the name was made by the Custer Country board of directors on Monday, but it was officially recognized by the state's Tourism Advisory Council on Tuesday. The name is effective immediately.

Last year the MT Department of Commerce asked Custer Country to reconsider its name for sensitivity reasons.

In an effort to find the best possible name for the tourism region, Custer Country hired MercuryCSC of Bozeman to conduct research.

Now, six months later, they have decided on Southeast Montana.

Mann says the new name fits the tourism region on a broader level; he noted, "We understand it may seem kind of bland, but it's more relevant to a wider audience and we will be able to spice it up for different events."

Mann added that the Little Big Horn National Monument is the third most visited site in Montana and it's still a significant part of the Southeast Montana tourism region.

Montana is divided into six large tourism regions by the MT Department of Commerce.

Glacier Country is the northwest area and includes Kalispell and Missoula; Gold West Country is the southwest area and includes Helena and Butte; Yellowstone Country is sout-hcentral Montana, with Bozeman and Big Sky; Russell Country is north-central Montana, featuring Great Falls and Havre; Missouri River Country encompasses the northeast part of the state, and includes Wolf Point and Glasgow; and Southeast Montana - formerly Custer Country - is the southeast portion of the state, stretching from Billings to Miles City and beyond.