Visitors' Council reports increase in tourism

Tourism is now Wyoming’s No. 2 industry, according to Kim Hytrek, Saratoga representative for the Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC).

These numbers are based in the data collected from the lodging tax revenue, which is 2 percent right now. As Hytrek reported at the Nov. 17 Saratoga Town Council meeting, these numbers are well above the average for the halfway point of the 2015-16 fiscal year, at $380,002.94. These numbers do not reflect the Sinclair Refinery turnaround, as the lodging tax is not collected if someone stays for more than 30 days in a motel or hotel, Hytrek said.

Hytrek identifies several reasons for the uptick in tourism this year, one being the state tourism office’s Wyoming Road Trip initiatives, and another the new CCVC director, Leslie Jefferson.

Since Jefferson has been there, shareability across social media has increased, with an initiative to get visitors and locals to tell stories about spots in Carbon County and why they are worth visiting. Jefferson led a re-branding effort in Carbon County, changing the slogan to “Get Your West On.”

“We spend most of our dollars on marketing and advertising,” Hytrek said, adding that this year the emphasis will be pushed up towards Montana, away from Salt Lake City.

With the dip in gas prices, CCVC believes that tourism to the area was increased due to people opting to drive instead of fly. Finally, Hytrek said since Saratoga is a beautiful destination, tourism is natural.

The industry is supported by a number of volunteers and workers in the Valley, including the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, which often partners with CCVC in grant writing and supporting local tourism. Hytrek identifies the Saratoga Resort and Spa, which brings in snowmobilers to utilize the snow we receive and ease seasonality concerns that local businesses experience.

Groups like Trout Unlimited and Wyoming Game and Fish Department keep the North Platte River clean and memorable for fishing in the area.

“A lot of people in the Valley do a lot of good volunteer work, and a lot of that drives our tourism,” Hytrek said, adding that the free hot pool is one of the greatest assets to the area, and it is led by volunteers.

In order to promote tourism in the future, Hytrek said there should be some focus on preserving the things that locals love about Saratoga—quiet, safety and a beautiful environment.