Visit Cheyenne President Darren Rudloff is expecting both Laramie County and the entire state to have an above average summer tourist season in 2018.

Rudloff said Wednesday, he doesn't see any big impediments to a good year for the local tourism industry, noting travelers spent about 10 percent more in 2017 in the county than the year before.

While some of that bump was undoubtedly due to people visiting the state for the solar eclipse last August, he said he thinks the area can build on that success in 2018. The hope is at least some of the people who traveled through Laramie County enjoyed the visit and will return again this year.

"The eclipse was a great introduction to Wyoming for many visitors who had never been here before" said Rudloff.

He said gas prices don't look like they will discourage summer travel to the area based on recent trends.

Rudloff said everything he has seen likewise indicates the state as a whole should have an above average or better travel season again, although the total state numbers are unlikely to match those seen last summer during the rare solar eclipse event.

Rudloff pointed to early state numbers for this year showing brisk visitation, adding, there is no reason to think the trend won't continue.

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