The Port Aransas Chamber Of Commerce & Tourist Bureau ended the 2008 fiscal year on a high note with an 8% increase in occupancy tax dollars and continues to see an increase in inquiries and customers visiting.  The opening of three new tourism amenities, Newport Dunes Golf Club, the Wetlands Education Center at UTMSI, and most recently, the new Port Aransas Museum are anticipated to bring additional visitors to the island.

The Chamber remains the pulse and heartbeat of the community with another record year for membership:  387 with 50 being NEW members for the year.  The ad agency, Morehead, Dotts & Associates stretched direct media advertising dollars to allow even larger target audiences and the return on the investment has been phenomenal. Plans have been made to continue to seek out new advertising outlets to reach the influx of new residents to the state of Texas.

While much of the country is reporting economic bad news for 2009, the Chamber remains cautiously optimistic that it will not be the case for Port Aransas and Mustang Island.