Wyoming working on tourism plan

State officials have scheduled a series of public hearings in an attempt to develop a Wyoming Tourism Master Plan to help grow the state?s tourism industry through 2020.

Three agencies ? the state Travel and Tourism Division, the Wyoming Game and Fish and the State Parks and Cultural Resources Departments ? have been doing preliminary work on the plan for the past 2? years.

?Now we?re at the point where we?re ramped up and ready to start,? Alan Dubberley of the tourism division said late last week.

The next key step is to get the viewpoints of the stakeholders and others who are interested in the tourist industry and the economy in general, he said.

The tourism division hired Hank Todd Solutions Group to develop the plan. Hank Todd is the former director of the state of Minnesota?s tourism division, with more than 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors.

Lynn Birleffi, a consultant who represents the lodging, restaurant and travel industries, said the goal is ?to figure out projects that will work to grow the tourism industry and prioritize them in light of limited financial resources.?

The master plan development will include one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups, e-surveys and regional meetings.