Visit Cedar City reports $250M visitor spending; Shakespeare Festival outlines 65th season
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Summary
Visit Cedar City presented 2025 tourism metrics (3.8M visitors, $250M spending) and a multiyear $5.75M investment plan; Utah Shakespeare Festival previewed an eight‑show 65th season and encouraged residents to use discounted ticket programs.
Visit Cedar City officials presented a year‑in‑review and multiyear investments aimed at increasing the county’s visitor economy.
Maria Daley, speaking for the county’s visitors bureau, said the county drew roughly 3.8 million annual visitors in 2025 and that visitor spending totaled about $250 million, which translated into an estimated $42 million in state and local tax revenue reinvested locally. "Our primary goal is to increase the economic impact of travel in Iron County," Daley said while describing TRT and TRCCA spending across events and infrastructure investments totaling approximately $5.75 million over recent and upcoming years.
Michael Barr and John D'Antonio of the Utah Shakespeare Festival presented the festival’s 65th season line‑up, including Hamlet, Twelfth Night and community programming like the Green Show. The festival emphasized resident discounts (half‑price tickets at the box office and a special Iron County six‑ticket bundle) and efforts to broaden midweek and offseason visitation.
Commissioners thanked the presenters and encouraged residents to take advantage of discounted resident programming. Staff emphasized that tourism taxes are being invested in sports facilities, event venues and amenities aimed at lengthening visitor stays and supporting local jobs.