Balancing the Visitor Economy in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Data, Tradeoffs, and the Path Forward

2026 Harlow Summer Seminar Series: July 2, 2026

Talk Title: Balancing the Visitor Economy in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Data, Tradeoffs, and the Path Forward
Speaker: Dr. Dan McCoy, Director of the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute at the University of Wyoming
Time: BBQ at 5:30pm followed by the seminar at 6:30pm (Mountain time)
Location: UW Research Institute at AMK Ranch

$10.00 suggested donation for attending the event. The event is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Attend Virtually: The talk will also be live on Zoom. The zoom link will be made available through our email list. If you haven’t already, join our mailing list!

Abstract

This presentation examines how visitor use, experience, and impacts are being measured and managed in Teton County, Wyoming, one of the most visited gateway communities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Drawing on applied research conducted in partnership with the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, this talk highlights how tourism management has evolved from a traditional marketing-focused model toward a more holistic destination stewardship approach.

Using data from large-scale visitor intercept surveys, resident sentiment studies, and a multi-stakeholder Delphi process, the presentation explores the complex tradeoffs between economic benefits, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. The talk will also highlight how the Sustainable Destination Management Plan (SDMP) is being operationalized through measurable indicators and ongoing monitoring systems designed to inform adaptive management and decision-making. Together, these efforts represent a shift toward evidence-based visitor management grounded in data, stakeholder input, and long-term sustainability goals.

Current graduate student research projects will be featured to illustrate how emerging scholarship is addressing key questions related to visitor behavior, infrastructure, and recreation use across the region, from trailheads and pathway systems to dispersed camping and recreation preferences.

This presentation offers a case study of how gateway communities in protected landscapes can move beyond managing visitation volume toward managing visitor experience, impacts, and outcomes in an integrated and adaptive way.

Bio

Dr. Dan McCoy is Director of the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute at the University of Wyoming, where he leads applied research, workforce development, and statewide engagement efforts supporting Wyoming’s visitor economy. He also serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources where he previously led the development and implementation of the university’s Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management degree program. With more than two decades of experience in outdoor leadership and recreation, Dr. McCoy has worked extensively at the intersection of tourism and public lands. His research and outreach focus on visitor use, destination stewardship, and sustainable tourism in rural communities and protected landscapes.

 

Photo Credits

Featured image: VisitJH is a photo in action. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Visit Jackson Hole
Headshot: University of Wyoming