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Moab tourism board to draft response to local coverage after funding errors

Moab Tourism Advisory Board · January 14, 2026
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Summary

Following reports the board said overstated tourism branding spending, members directed the chair and vice chair to work with county staff to draft a letter to local newspapers and to coordinate media responses through the public information officer; the motion passed unanimously.

The Moab Tourism Advisory Board on Jan. 13 voted unanimously to have board leadership draft a letter to local newspapers addressing what members described as inaccurate reporting about tourism branding spending.

Speaker 3 opened discussion of a Dec. 31 article that Speaker 2 said "made it sound like we were spending $3,500,000 for the agencies," and several members said the phrasing lacked context and fueled heated public reaction. Speaker 2 said online text for the story was corrected after discussions with the county communications director but that the correction did not appear in print.

Members gave multiple examples of prior coverage they said had overstated expenditures — Speaker 2 cited a July story that allegedly overstated a branding budget by about $1 million — and argued for a coordinated approach to media relations. Several speakers recommended routing interviews and factual clarifications through the county public information officer (PIO) and coordinating with the county commission and administrator.

Speaker 4 moved that the chair and vice chair work with staff (Lisa) and the PIO to draft a letter for submission to local papers; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board agreed drafts should be reviewed by the PIO and county administration before being submitted.

Board members also discussed nonpunitive tactics: improving the county web page and using quick-reference materials so journalists and the public can verify restricted-fund uses and other details. No correction to a print edition was recorded during the meeting; members noted the online correction but said the earlier print circulation had already affected public commentary.

The board asked staff and leadership to return with a draft for review at the next meeting.