CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's tourism economy posted a banner year in 2012.

The Associated Press reports a study prepared for the Wyoming Office of Tourism says travel spending totaled $3.1 billion in 2012, eclipsing the previous mark of $2.9 billion. The spending was driven in part by an increase in the number of visitors to the state, which grew from 8.34 million in 2011 to 8.67 million in 2012 — an increase of 4 percent.

Preliminary figures show local and state tax revenues generated by travel in Wyoming were up 7.6 percent over 2011, with $128 million in tax revenues surpassing 2011's record of $119 million.

Diane Shober, director of the tourism office, says the report "is a strong indication that our well-placed marketing efforts are working."

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