National Travel & Tourism week has arrived!

As communities across the country recognize National Travel and Tourism Week this May, we’d like to reflect on what tourism means here at home and how it continues to support everyday life in Mariposa County.

Our connection to tourism runs deep.

In our last column, we looked back at the centennial of Highway 140 and how generations of investment helped connect our communities to opportunity and prosperity. But our role as a destination reaches back even further.

The Yosemite Grant of 1864 protected areas of Mariposa County, specifically Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, making portions of our county the first in the nation set aside for public enjoyment and recreation, helping inspire what would become the national park idea. For more than 150 years, Mariposa County has welcomed visitors from around the world.

To see how tourism is impacting our county today, we have been eagerly awaiting the release of the 2025 Economic Impact of Travel report from Visit California, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates. (See related story in this week’s edition.)

The report evaluates visitor spending, employment, earnings and tax revenue across all 58 counties and 12 tourism regions in the state, helping us better understand how travel contributes to local economies.

While we have long understood the importance of tourism to our region, the newest report provides some striking figures that help illustrate just how central the industry is to Mariposa County’s economic wellbeing.

Beyond supporting local jobs and businesses, tourism also plays an important role in maintaining the quality of life for residents. The report shows that 73 percent of all taxable sales in Mariposa County are generated by visitors, meaning only the remaining 27 percent is supported by residents and local activity.

That level of outside spending is unmatched anywhere else in California.

The next closest county is Mono County at 65 percent. By comparison, neighboring counties rely far less on visitor spending. Madera County, for example, is at 8 percent. Across California’s 58 counties, most fall between 4 percent and 20 percent.

Travel-generated tax revenue totaled more than $50 million last year, helping support essential county services such as fire protection, road maintenance, law enforcement and infrastructure.

When broken down locally, that equates to roughly $6,700 per household in services supported by visitors from outside the county. Without that contribution, those costs would need to be absorbed elsewhere.

So when you pause for visitors crossing the crosswalk on Main Street on their way to shop, consider giving them a friendly wave.

As the home of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, our communities have welcomed travelers for more than 150 years. In the 1800s, early visitors often spent the equivalent of thousands of dollars in modern currency for stagecoach fares, hotel stays and guides.

For nearly 100 years, Highway 140, known as the “All-Weather Highway,” has helped make Yosemite accessible year-round and ushered in a new era of automobile travel, tripling visitation along the route within its first year.

While the Gold Rush first shaped the county’s early economy, its most intense economic period lasted less than a decade. Its lasting legacy today is the history, architecture and cultural identity it created, which continue to draw travelers from around the world and remain central to the county’s story.

As residents of Mariposa County, we are all invested in the health and sustainability of the tourism industry. During National Travel and Tourism Week, it is important to recognize the people and businesses who create the experiences that support our local economy year-round.

From the staff who welcome travelers at our Visitor Centers, to our lodging providers, local restaurants and retail shops, each plays an important role in shaping a positive visitor experience.

A simple gesture of kindness can leave a lasting impression and become the reason someone returns home saying the best part of their trip was the people they met here.

Kim Lawson is Director of Communications and Content for the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB), where she leads the national and international media coverage promoting our region. A longtime local, she helps tell the story of Mariposa County and welcome visitors through media and storytelling. Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the County of Mariposa. Learn more about YMCTB at Yosemite.com See stories from our community on Youtube channel @Yosemite- Nation to watch our series on local business owners involved in the tourism trade www.youtube.com/@YosemiteNation/