Travel Matters in Park County

Travel matters.

That’s the message from the Wyoming Department of Tourism as they celebrate the state’s second-largest industry, and the direct impact it has on national, state and local economies, during National Travel and Tourism Week.

Claudia Wade with the Park County Travel Council says that much of Cody’s economy relies on tourism, in part thanks to its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, and at this time of year, we begin to see the increase in visitors as the gates into the Park begin to open.

The travel industry in Wyoming continues to see a steady increase in visitor spending, with an average increase of 3.7 percent annually since 2007.  The leisure and hospitality industry directly supports 32,290 jobs in Wyoming, making it the largest private sector employer in the state.  And travel spending generates around $196 million in local and state tax revenue.

National Travel and Tourism Week was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to showcase the travel industry’s contributions to the economy and to communities nationwide.