The Star Valley Chamber of Commerce will host an April Lunch and Learn featuring Domenic Bravo, executive director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, who will visit Lincoln County on Wednesday, April 22, to speak to both the Star Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Fossil Basin Chamber of Commerce.

Bravo, named executive director last October, brings a career rooted in public service and destination management. He previously worked in Nevada as a law enforcement park ranger, later moving to Wyoming in 2008, where he served as division director for state parks, state trails, and historic sites. He also helped establish the state’s outdoor recreation office, completed a stint as a professor at the University of Wyoming, and later served as CEO for Visit Cheyenne.

During an interview on the SVI Radio Network, Bravo said the Wyoming Office of Tourism’s priorities include encouraging visitors to move beyond major gateways and exploring more of the state’s “hidden gems.” He noted that Wyoming’s geography, unique rock formations, multiple ecological zones, and diverse experiences can often be experienced in a single day, a mindset he said applies well to Lincoln County as well.

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He emphasized that the tourism strategy is also about smart growth: maximizing visitor spending while protecting residents’ access to their communities and recreation areas.

Bravo also discussed the broader ripple effect of tourism on local economies. He said the visitor economy can account for a significant share of sales tax in many communities and helps support services residents rely on year-round. He described tourism as a “fertilizer” that supports not only hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, but also local businesses such as retail shops and service providers.

“Depending on what county you’re in, it’s anywhere between 10% to as high as 40% of the sales tax comes from a visitor,” he said, adding that visitor-driven demand helps sustain local employers and keeps community quality of life high.

RSVPs are being collected via svidan@silverstar.com, and additional details are available at StarValleyChamber.com.