Tourism Keeps the Lights On
For the People & Places We Rely On
Tourism isn’t just about visitors—it’s about home.
Tourism Keeps the Lights On is Visit Casper’s community education campaign designed to highlight the real, everyday value of hospitality and tourism in Natrona County and to explain how voter-approved lodging tax benefits local residents first and foremost. From keeping small businesses thriving to funding essential services, tourism touches every corner of our community.
Why Tourism Matters Here
When people come to Casper—whether for a fishing trip, a sports tournament, a family vacation, or a major event—they leave more than memories behind. They leave economic impact that benefits us all. Every meal in a restaurant, every night in a hotel, every ticket purchased at an event supports local jobs, strengthens our economy, and generates lodging tax dollars that fund everything from destination marketing to sports event and festival sponsorships; those visitor expenditures also generate sales tax, providing a critical funding source for local governments providing essential local services such as fire, police and emergency medical services that we all rely on.
In fact, tourism helps power the very things residents and visitors alike enjoy: vibrant downtown businesses, outdoor recreation access, cultural attractions, and community events. Simply put, when travelers choose Casper, they help keep our community moving forward.
The Big Picture
- Supports Jobs: Hospitality is one of Natrona County’s largest employers, providing opportunities for thousands of local families.
- Drives Spending: Visitor dollars circulate through our economy, helping local shops, restaurants, and service providers thrive. Tourism is the second largest industry in Wyoming!
- Funds Community Assets: Lodging tax dollars generated by visitors go directly back into tourism promotion, event support, and services that benefit both residents and guests.
- Enhances Quality of Life: From major rodeos and festivals to thriving public spaces, tourism enriches the experiences we enjoy as locals. Visitors spend a fair penny when they're here, and that generates sales tax that helps pay for fire, police and emergency medical services that we all rely on.
For Residents, Too
Tourism Keeps the Lights On is a reminder for all of us. A strong tourism economy means more opportunity, more events, and a higher quality of life for everyone who calls Natrona County home.
