Summer tourism in Wyoming got off to a bumpy start, which the state's top travel official attributes largely to this year's cool, wet spring.

Wyoming Travel and Tourism Director Diane Shober said businesses that focus on outdoor recreation activities have been affected most.

"They have really felt the pinch of the weather," she said. "How much fun is it to go whitewater rafting when it's snowing outside?"

At the same time, "the restaurants and retail stores in Jackson have had a great May and June, but I think that's because people can't be outside as much," Shober said.

She said "cautious optimism" was the tenor of a recent survey of tourism-related people in the state.

The fuel factor remains a big variable. At some point, the bite of high fuel prices, felt directly in buying gasoline for trips or indirectly in air fares, could prove too much for many family budgets.

The Federal Highway Administration said last week that American drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April 2008 than a year earlier, and 400 million fewer miles in March.

"I think that's a very elastic decision," Shober said. "I think it has a lot of give in it. Because for whatever reason, people plan and save, and they usually anticipate spending money for a vacation. And especially if they're doing a long-haul vacation."

Shober said Web site inquiries have cooled in recent weeks when compared to a year ago, which in part could be explained by a lull in advertising. As summer advertising ramps up, she anticipates a rebound.

Shober added that total inquiries year-to-date are still well ahead of last year.

For people concerned about gas prices, Shober said the answer isn't necessarily to skip a family vacation. It may be a matter of just looking closer to home.

"There are so many great things that are going on right here in Wyoming," she said.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.