Boosting Tourism

UW helps develop recreation and tourism through a partnership between the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the College of Business.

By Micaela Myers

Ask anyone why they love living in Wyoming, and the great outdoors likely makes the list. Our vast open spaces, state parks and national parks, forests and monuments also draw ample tourism — a key revenue generator for the state. UW’s Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program and degree launched several years ago in support of this industry and has continued to grow.

“Tourism is the largest private employment sector in Wyoming, with over 33,000 people employed,” says Interim Director Dan McCoy. “We prioritize positions in Wyoming for our students seeking internships and employment. We have graduates all over the state in various positions who help power our economy.”

The program is a partnership between the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the College of Business. It emphasizes stewardship and conservation of natural resources, tourism and outdoor recreation theories and best practices, entrepreneurial and business management strategies, creating outstanding visitor experiences, and a broad understanding of cultural and natural resources. Students can choose from a variety of concentrations.

Enrollment is steadily growing, with new faculty and staff and 87 students currently pursuing the degree.

Jaxon King of Saratoga graduated in 2022 with a double major in outdoor recreation and tourism management and environment and natural resources and now runs his own guiding company there: Jax Outdoors LLC.

“Before I graduated, I was educated on the ease of starting a business in Wyoming and was encouraged through UW to stay here in Wyoming to bolster the tourism and recreation economy,” he says. “I take people fishing throughout the year. There’s a lot to love about what I do, but my favorite part is sharing my passion for the outdoors and teaching others about it. I love that I get to surround myself with wildlife and beautiful natural landscapes and open spaces every single day.”

To other UW students, King encourages networking: “Students should be involved with real businesses and shaking real hands with people they’ll see and work with in the future. This state has few people, and it’s not hard to get to know folks all over. Starting early in the UW setting was key for my business.”

About the Haub School

The Haub School aims to advance the understanding and resolution of complex environmental and natural resource challenges. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs that emphasize critical thinking, collaborative problem solving and interdisciplinary approaches in environmental systems science, sustainability, outdoor leadership, environmental law and more. The Ruckelshaus Institute further promotes the school’s goals with outreach initiatives and the Collaborative Solutions Program, which supports natural resource stakeholders around the region by providing information, resources, and collaborative problem solving trainings and services. The Wyoming Conservation Corps is also housed in the school and continues its legacy of carrying out the highest caliber of service for Wyoming’s public lands.

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