The Great American Outdoors Act: A Cornerstone of the Wyoming Economy

Strategic Insights -

The Great American Outdoors Act has played a crucial role in supporting Wyoming's economy and community well-being. Tourism is a significant sector in the state, employing over 38,000 Wyomingites in 2024, with wages exceeding $1.1 billion. In Teton County, visitor spending generated $1.7 billion and supported over 8,400 local jobs. The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board manages visitor-paid taxes, which totaled $10.8 million in FY 2024, supporting marketing, visitor services, and community priorities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The leisure and hospitality sector employed more than 38,000 Wyomingites in 2024, with wages exceeding $1.1 billion, making it the highest on record and accounting for over 13% of all jobs in the state.
  • Visitor spending in Teton County generated $1.7 billion and supported over 8,400 local jobs, making tourism a cornerstone of the economy.
  • The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board manages 60% of visitor-paid lodging taxes, which totaled $10.8 million in FY 2024, supporting marketing, visitor services, and community priorities.
  • The Great American Outdoors Act has been essential in addressing deferred maintenance needs on public lands, ensuring safe roads, maintained trails, and functioning facilities.
  • Continued funding is vital to sustain the recreation-based economy, protect natural and cultural resources, and support communities that serve as gateways to these places.
  • The business community has embraced its role in managing the guest journey end-to-end, including modernizing reservation systems, implementing daily capacity limits, and real-time digital communication.
  • Partnerships between the Park Service, the Forest Service, local government, and the business community have led to investments in core stewardship initiatives like visitor education, public land ambassadors, and sustainable infrastructure.

Statistics:

  • 38,000: Number of Wyomingites employed in the leisure and hospitality sector in 2024.
  • $1.1 billion: Wages in the leisure and hospitality sector in 2024, the highest on record.
  • 13%: Proportion of all jobs in Wyoming accounted for by the leisure and hospitality sector in 2024.
  • $1.7 billion: Visitor spending generated in Teton County in 2024.
  • 8,400: Number of local jobs supported in Teton County by visitor spending in 2024.
  • $10.8 million: Visitor-paid lodging taxes managed by the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board in FY 2024.
  • 4 million: Number of people who visit the Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge each year.

Sources:

  • House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands testimony by Julie Calder, Board Chair for the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism, from a hearing entitled "The Great American Outdoors Act: Modernizing and Maintaining National Parks to Celebrate America's 250th Birthday," Sept. 5, 2025.
  • https://docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II00/20250905/118553/HHRG-119-II00-Wstate-CalderJ-20250905.pdf