Florida's beaches are 'open for business.'
With the media coverage surrounding the BP oil spill, there is a huge amount of concern about our beaches. All Florida beaches and cruise ports are open at this time. In fact, except for three beaches in Louisiana, ALL of the Gulf’s beaches are open.
How much oil could come to Florida and when it might, remains unclear. Even President Obama has chimed in, saying “Americans can help by continuing to visit the communities and beaches of the Gulf Coast.” The FWC even offered free (no license required) salt-water fishing over the Memorial Holiday weekend and June 5 & 6 to encourage business within the fishing industry. Our officials are working desperately to get the word out “Florida is open for business!”
There is speculation that tourists will head inland away from the beaches. So far that hasn’t happened, and may not occur at all. While Orlando’s theme parks are away from the beaches, tourism tends to treat all of Florida as one. If tourists are considering a trip to Florida, and there is trouble brewing in any location of the state, many agents will steer vacation packages elsewhere. The impact also trickles down from tourist-related industries to non-tourist commerce, so eventually everyone in Florida will feel the effects from this disaster. With the official start of hurricane season now upon us, this is the last thing Florida needs.
All of Florida is begging tourists NOT to cancel their trip to our beautiful state. In fact, it could be the best time to plan a visit! Many hotels are lowering their prices to entice visitors to come. The crowds have thinned too. If you’re concerned about any potential impact from the oil spill, we encourage you to check with local destinations in order to get the most up-to-date information. To make it easy, you can go to the Visit Florida link.
The water is clear, the beaches are as inviting as ever, and there are great summer values all around the state. So, grab plenty of water and sunscreen and enjoy our states’ natural beauty, cultural heritage, as well as our 825 miles of beaches.
Last Updated on June 4, 2010
