Hervé Duxin, Wyoming Travel & Tourism representative in France

What are the region's assets?

Hervé Duxin - Its landscapes, of course! The wide open spaces of the West, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop: these are images that resonate with us all, popularised by western films since the 1930s. Wyoming has a population of less than 500,000 and an area half the size of France. Another major asset: a perfectly authentic Western culture. The Wyoming flag features a bison on a blue background. As for the region's logo, it depicts a rider riding a bronco... This immediately sets the mood: here we are in cowboy country.

What does the future hold for business tourism?

H. D. - Over the last few years, the region's profile has clearly increased in France. It now features in the catalogue of all the T. O. tours. As far as incentives are concerned, this is an activity in its infancy that I'm starting to develop. I've realised that the region has a huge amount of goodwill, and the players in the sector have been won over and are very curious about what could be set up. If you're looking for something off the beaten track, there's no doubt that the potential is enormous. As for the activities on offer, there are plenty: green tourism and the discovery of a wealth of wildlife, from bison to antelopes, wolves to bears, but also rafting, canoeing, hot air ballooning, fly fishing, golf... There are more than 50 golf courses in Wyoming, but the best way to discover them is to get on a horse and take part in the daily activities of the cowboys on the many ranches that welcome guests.

What action could be taken?

H. D. - What child hasn't dreamt of being a cowboy? There's plenty to embroider around this phenomenon. Sharing life on the ranch, panning for gold, following the trails of the pioneers in a covered wagon... The mythology of the conquest of the West is rich enough to create some highly original scenarios.