Tourism Has Big Impact on Park County

In Park County, tourism is a big deal.

As the gateway city for the east entrance and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Cody gets a lot of visitors. Close to a million people – 979,000 to be more specific – stayed overnight in Park County in 2016, according to numbers from the Wyoming Office of Tourism. Visitors paid over 38% of the sales tax collected last year in the County, spending almost $380 million dollars.

This week is National Travel and Tourism Week, which is an opportunity to recognize travel and tourism professionals all over the country. Claudia Wade, Executive Director of the Park County Travel Council, says that we are fortunate to have so many businesses in the hospitality industry that offer great service and a unique historical perspective.

But Wade points out that Cody isn’t just a gateway city to Yellowstone – the community has outdoor recreation opportunities and historical significance, as well as the Yellowstone experience.

Wade pointed out that the partners that work together to promote Park County are a big reason that people stay and play in this area. Thanks to a combination of efforts by the State of Wyoming Department of Tourism, the Park County Travel Council, and the restaurants and hotels that open their doors to visitors, Cody continues to be a favored destination for travelers.