As a government shutdown looms over Congress come Oct. 1, the financial consequences could greatly impact Utah’s tourism economy — especially for Moab.

Mayor Joette Langianese has kept a close eye on the potential shutdown since August, providing key updates at Moab City Council meetings from the Bennett Group, the city’s Washington, D.C., lobbying firm.

“We won’t know until it happens, but it’s pretty likely to be shut down October 1,” Langianese said at the council’s Sept. 23 meeting. “We don’t know what that’s going to entail [or] how long that’s going to be. They anticipate if there is a shutdown, it’ll probably be a couple days to two weeks.”

Langianese hopes the state will keep the national parks open as they’ve done in the past.

Peak fall visitation is underway in Moab, and a

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