FAQs

Is tourism really a “thing” here? For the last several years, (minus 2020 of course), our community has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In 2024, we welcomed 835,000 overnight visitors who spent $377.8 million, up 1% from 2023. That $377.8 million in direct visitor spending powered 2,890 full and part-time jobs, (right here at home!), and $115.6 million in earnings. Tourist spending also contributed $19.6 million in state and local taxes. Each household in Natrona County would have to write a check for more than $540 to make up the $19.6 million in taxes collected from tourists while they’re here. The cool part is, people visit for several reasons including seeing friends and family, youth sports events and tournaments, meetings and conventions, shopping, traveling to a national park, hunting and fishing, sight-seeing, and more.

The 2% Natrona County lodging tax is paid by visitors who stay overnight in our hotels, campgrounds, bed & breakfasts, and Airbnbs. Very few local residents pay the Natrona County lodging tax; only those who stay overnight in one of our lodging establishments do so. In essence, the lodging tax is like a user fee. Travelers use Visit Casper’s website, visitor center, brochures, etc. and are pay for these services through the lodging tax.

Visit Casper is Natrona County’s tourism organization and uses the lodging tax funds to bring conventions, sporting events, fishing and other outdoor enthusiasts, and leisure travelers to Natrona County. In addition to aggressively marketing the area regionally and nationally, Visit Casper supports non-profit events and organizations that drive tourism through such events as the 5150 Festival. The organization funds the visitor center inside the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center and runs a world-class front-line hospitality training program.

Travel spending in Natrona County supports 2,890 jobs for our friends and neighbors and tourist spending helps fund essential services like police, fire, and EMS. Learn more about how Tourism Keeps the Lights on for the People and Places We Rely on here.

Tourism is a competitive business. Countries, states, and cities across the globe spend hundreds of millions of dollars to lure visitors to their area because visitors leave what’s called “new” money behind. These are dollars that don’t recirculate from residents. If we don’t market our community, it’s likely visitors would choose somewhere else. Fewer visitors mean fewer jobs, reduced profits for local business owners and fewer tax dollars collected which impacts our quality of life.

Our top markets for visitation are Denver, Salt Lake City, Rapid City and Billings. Depending on the time of year, 65-75% of our visitors are from out of state. We also see many of our Wyoming neighbors who come to shop, dine, stay, and play.

Tourism touches every person who lives in Natrona County. For example, people who work in the industry then spend their earnings on mortgages, school clothes, the grocery store, etc. Which means the bank, the retailer, and the grocer are all able to pay their employees, too. Service firms, like accounting, attorneys and marketing agencies all benefit from businesses in the hospitality industry that pay for their services. It could be something as simple as your neighbor has a job in the industry. Or, the taxes that are paid by visitor's fund streets, parks, police, fire, etc. There is a true trickle-down effect in the tourism industry which benefits all of us. To learn more, sign up for one of our Visit Casper Advocates classes.