Moab tourism board highlights visitation gains, upcoming summit and airport concerns
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Summary
Board members reported higher park visitation and tax collections, previewed the Moab Chamber business summit and Red Cliffs Lodge reopening, and asked for representation at a Jan. 23 meeting on essential air service; Arches and October tax numbers were cited as evidence of strong 2025 performance.
Board members used the Jan. 13 meeting to share reports on visitation, marketing activity and local events. Speaker 10 reported that Arches National Park gate counts were up 4.6% in December and 2.5% for the year; Speaker 5 told the board October tax collections were up about 20% year over year.
Members praised recent community events — including a widely attended holiday parade and lighting of the bridge — and said town visitation during December benefited from weather patterns elsewhere. The board announced a grand reopening for Red Cliffs Lodge on March 18 and noted the Moab Chamber business summit that week is sold out.
Speaker 7 raised airport concerns tied to the upcoming Essential Air Service contract and requested a volunteer to attend a Jan. 23 meeting; Speaker 3 volunteered to represent the board. Film industry outreach and the rural Utah motion picture incentive were also discussed as important for local economic development, and members said they would monitor state legislative activity affecting tax and fee structures relevant to short-term rentals.
Members asked staff to prepare a commission report summarizing 2025 accomplishments and 2026 goals for the board to review. The meeting ended with routine scheduling and outreach items; the board moved its 2026 goals discussion to the next meeting to meet the meeting deadline.