May 12--CHEYENNE -- So far, extreme gas prices don't seem to have affected tourism in the state or in the Capital City.

But state and Cheyenne tourism officials are preparing for a potentially tough season.

As Wyoming's second-leading industry, tourism has an important effect on the state's economy.

Historically, gas prices haven't had much of an effect on tourism to Cheyenne, Darren Rudloff, the president and CEO of the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said.

"However, this time might be different, simply because there's been so much discussion of problems in the housing market, problems in the overall economy and, of course, gas prices adding on to that," he said.

Both Cheyenne and Wyoming tourism agencies are advertising more aggressively to the region this year, hoping to draw Wyoming's neighbors as much as possible.

Rudloff said his agency is marketing more to Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming and trying to target people who are considering taking shorter trips.

Alan Dubberley, deputy director of Wyoming Travel and Tourism, said inquiries to his office are up by 49 percent over this time last year.

"But we also have never seen gas prices this high, this early," he said.

For that reason, they have almost doubled the advertising dollars spent on regional marketing this year.

There are two types of vacationers, Dubberley explained: the two- to five-day travelers and the seven- to 10-day ones.

This year, they will be trying to reach more of the two- to five-day and weekend variety in order to make up for any long-term ones they might lose.

The state also is expecting to see an increase in foreign travelers this year, he said, particularly from Europe and Japan.

Lynn Birleffi, executive director of the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association, said the U.S. is a good buy right now, and compared to overseas, gas is cheap here.

She added that the report she has gotten from hotels across Wyoming is very positive.

"At this point, there doesn't seem to be any impact," she said.

Cheyenne Frontier Days markets mostly to the region, even during good years. And every year, CFD tries to estimate what the economy will do, General Chairman Charlie West said.

"But we've had the inclination for several months now (that this year might be tough)," he said.

That's why they're offering some night shows for lower prices, hoping to entice regional vacationers to attend, West said.

He added that they expect to see the same numbers this year as in past years, but more of them might be one- or two-day visitors instead of week-long ones.

Rudloff said Cheyenne has seen some "flattening out" of the market, and hotels are seeing some lower numbers. However, the slowdown could be coming from decreased business travel as well as leisure.

"We're bracing to have some negative impact from the slowdown in the economy and the rising gas prices, but we're aggressively taking steps to try to shift our strategies to prepare for it," he said.

"But you never know. We might have a fine year, and we'll be laughing about it in the fall."

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