NEWS BLIPS
Wyoming Governor Initiates Outdoor Recreation Growth
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Outdoor Industry Association's website.
The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) reports that Wyoming Governor Matt Mead (R) creates the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Taskforce, which has 26 representatives from business, government, NGOs and outdoor recreation groups who work to identify strategies for growing the outdoor recreation economy. Nearly 50 percent of Wyoming is comprised of public land. Outdoor recreation already accounts for $5.6 billion in annual consumer spending in Wyoming, as well $1.6 billion in wages for 50,000 jobs. With iconic natural destinations such as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons, it’s not surprising that outdoor recreation is indeed one of the state’s key economic drivers.
Shauna Farnell of OIA relays in her article, "It’s not that policymakers want to transform their state’s (almost) pristine landscape, nor do they necessarily want to do away with those oil rigs, but they want to share the appeal of their wide-open spaces with those who truly appreciate them, finding fresh means for economic growth in the process." During a panel at the Expo, Wyoming Treasurer and taskforce member Mark Gordon, suggested the taskforce should leverage the ‘not-in-my-backyard’ sentiment in its messaging. “There has to be an opportunity to show visitors the respect we have for our land [and] wildlife.”
To read the full article by OIA's Shauna Farnell on WY outdoor recreation, click here.
Industry Updates, News, Outdoors, Parks & Recreation, Wyoming