Even cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages were unable to help gulf coast tourism last year as tourists stayed away in droves because of the BP oil spill. The regions reputation was tarnished, tar balled, tainted and viewed as a no go zone by many travelers.
Last summers oil slicks, black sludge on shorelines, hazmat patrols, deserted beaches and vacancy signs that stretched from the Florida panhandle to the beaches of Galveston, Texas are largely forgotten.
April 20th, 2010 BP was responsible for an estimated 53,000 gallons of oil escaping each day into the Gulf of Mexico before the well was capped on July 15th and permanently sealed on September 19th. This spill had a dramatic negative impact on tourism in many coastal communities last summer.
What a difference a year makes. Hotels and restaurants that were largely empty after the spill are seeing a return of tourists. Beaches are crowded, restaurants have waiting lines, and many hotels are charging pre-oil-spill prices again.
Panama City Beach (FL) Convention & Visitors Bureau reports The tourists are coming. Our numbers are up, and we are on pace for a strong summer travel season.
To address tourist concerns over the high price of gas, many hotels are participating in the Giving Tanks promotion which offers gas cards and discounts for tourists. www.cheapfares.com