WYOMING — As the Jackson Hole valley quiets down for the off-season, it’s a good time to ponder the impacts of tourism on the economy, individual wallets and quality of life.
The majority of Wyoming residents are on board with the benefits of tourism in the state, according to a new study conducted by the University of Wyoming’s (UW) School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies. A UW news article states that 74% of adults say tourism promotion by the state government benefits their communities economically, per the 2026 Wyoming election-year survey. Most of the 660 randomly surveyed adults also believe the overall benefits of tourism outweigh the negative impacts.
“Tourism in Wyoming has always been more than bringing visitors to our state,” Wyoming Office of Tourism Executive Director Domenic Bravo said in the article. “It’s about supporting the people, small businesses and communities that make Wyoming what it is. It’s encouraging to see that Wyoming residents recognize the economic value of tourism in their own backyards. These findings reinforce why we must continue to be intentional about how we grow; ensuring tourism strengthens our local economies; protects what makes Wyoming special; and enhances the lives of the people who call this place home.”
Findings from the study show 61% of Wyoming adults agree that overall tourism benefits outweigh negative impacts, compared to 19% who disagree. If tourism increases in the state, 46% agree that overall quality of life will improve, while 28% disagree and 26% are neutral. About one-third of residents, 35%, think that the state is becoming overcrowded due to more visitors; 43% disagree. Half of the state’s adults think that their own communities are not becoming overcrowded by visitors, and 32% say their own communities are becoming overcrowded.
“Wyoming residents clearly see the value of the visitor economy in their own communities,” said Dan McCoy, director of UW’s Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. “Three out of four residents agree that the state’s tourism promotion pays off locally. At the same time, residents are less certain that more tourism automatically means a better quality of life. That tells us the industry’s next conversation should be about how we grow tourism in ways that residents feel directly benefit them.”
Tourism is one of Wyoming’s largest industries. According to the 2025 Wyoming Economic Impact of Travel report, visitor spending in the state reached a record $5 billion last year. Teton County alone accounted for over $1.8 billion of the statewide total. Visitor spending in Teton County jumped 44% between 2019 and 2025. The tourism industry supported around 34,000 jobs statewide and generated nearly $300 million in state and local tax revenue in 2025.
