What Teton County Residents Are Saying About Tourism

In July 2025, the JHTTB launched the outcomes of the 2025 Resident Sentiment Survey, providing scientifically grounded insights into residents’ views on tourism. The findings, out there on the JHTTB’s trade web site, reveal each areas of progress and protracted challenges that decision for collaborative options.

Key Takeaways:

• 89% of locals imagine that tourism is necessary to the financial system.
• 36% imagine tourism advantages outweigh drawbacks – a rise from 26% in 2022.
• 65% help growing the lodging tax by as much as 2% on in a single day lodging.
• Traffic, housing, and environmental influence stay prime considerations requiring motion.

The backside line: residents worth tourism, however need to be certain that it really works for them by defending particular person high quality of life, group tradition, and the pure atmosphere.

Economic Importance: Strong and Steady

Tourism is Jackson Hole’s primary financial driver, producing $1.75 billion in direct journey spending in 2024 and supporting 8,480 jobs.

In the 2025 survey, practically 9 out of 10 residents agreed tourism is necessary to the native financial system, and 43% stated they personally profit economically, each figures displaying slight enchancment over 2022. This financial basis isn’t nearly numbers; it’s in regards to the paychecks, companies, and alternatives that make life right here attainable for a lot of households.

But Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?

When requested whether or not “the positive effects of tourism outweigh the negative impacts,” 36% agreed or strongly agreed — up from 26% in 2022 however nonetheless beneath the nationwide common.

Compared to comparable Western gateway communities – Moab (31%), Lake Tahoe (29%), and Park City (39%) – Jackson Hole’s sentiment falls throughout the typical vary for vacation spot communities balancing financial advantages with quality-of-life impacts.

What Residents Value, and Where Their Concerns Lie

Residents select Teton County for its pure magnificence, out of doors alternatives, and tight-knit group. Survey respondents ranked the atmosphere, connection to group, and welcoming ambiance amongst their highest priorities, and so they famous that tourism already contributes positively to a few of these by tourism-funded initiatives that preserve pure sources, present public infrastructure, respect wildlife, and encourage accountable visitation.

However, residents are involved with visitors congestion, housing affordability, and the lack of group character. Many really feel tourism leaders aren’t doing sufficient to handle these points and wish extra seen, measurable motion.

Immediate Solutions and Long-Term Planning

Jackson residents are difficult tourism leaders to hunt artistic options that profit the group and the people inside. The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board is dedicated to working collaboratively with residents to handle rapid considerations whereas planning for a sustainable tourism future.

The JHTTB is already funding some focused efforts:

• Tackling Traffic: The JHTTB is supporting START Bus operations, together with a winter airport shuttle, and mobility hubs planning to provide each residents and guests higher transportation choices.
• Promoting Responsibility: Our “Selfie Control” and “This Is How We Jackson Hole” campaigns have reached 61% of residents, with 84% saying these efforts are wanted.
• Protecting Our Environment: Through partnerships with native on-the-ground ambassador packages, we’re working to teach guests about accountable recreation – supported by 93% of residents in latest polling.

While some priorities like workforce housing fall outdoors lodging tax funding parameters, the JHTTB is dedicated to exploring modern approaches to handle complicated tourism-related challenges by clear group dialogue and resident-led planning.

Conclusion

This survey represents a whole lot of resident voices, however the dialog doesn’t finish right here. We’re dedicated to sustaining this clear, data-driven strategy to tourism planning. You can view the whole survey outcomes right here and keep engaged as we work collectively to form Jackson Hole’s future.

As Jackson Hole continues evolving, this data-driven, resident-centered strategy to tourism planning goals to make sure future generations inherit a thriving group expertise, not merely a vacation spot.