BP to Trickle Money in to Florida's Panhandle to Encourage End of Season Tourism

Aug. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- After the BP drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20 the states on the Gulf of Mexico coastline have seen oil tarnish their beaches and their tourist figures.

Now BP have quietly filtered in $7 million to counties on Florida's panhandle, that have been directly affected by the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This comes after refusing the state of Florida's request for $50 million earlier.

The money, which must be spent by the 30th of September, is being used by destinations all over the panhandle in hope to encourage late Tourism at the end of the summer season. The money will be used to provide incentives for travelers, by facilitating last minute deals.

The Pensacola Bay area has received $1.4 million, and hopes to attract visitors by offering $100 American Express gift cards, which will be granted to tourists whether they are spending the night in $49 a night motel or $750 a night hotel suite.

"We've been talking with BP for months, both with local and state representatives," says director of Visit Pensacola, Ed Schroeder. "They came through."

The BP money was split using a formula taking in to account each region's share of the county bed-tax. Penescola Bay, which saw much oil come ashore, received an extra $700,000.

"We wanted to make sure we were helping with tourism funding in the counties that were most impacted," said Liz Castro, a BP spokeswoman.

According to Castro the goal now is to bring visitors back in to Florida, to show that it is still a desirable tourist destination. This message has been aided by President Obama and family's visit to the area fairly recently, where they swam in the Gulf waters recently blobbed by oil.

"The beaches, they were impacted, but they're clean. They're open," Castro said. "We want people to know they can bring their families here."

BP's support to the areas in which oil washed ashore is not what Florida initially had in mind.

After the leak began in April Florida was granted $25 million to promote Tourism within the state. Florida Governor Charlie Crist then requested a further $50 million when the initial grant had run it out, hoping that this way they could save businesses that they believed would inevitably be claiming subsequently.

BP has said that at the moment the best mode of operation is working with the local tourist councils rather than providing a lump sum through the state.

So far Destin have noted a huge success from the last minute deals, Dawn Moliterno, executive director of the area's tourist development council, noted how well it is going. "From the vacation rental with one house to the largest resorts that we have, all of them in between are showing that this has been able to help."

Many owners of vacation rental properties have been affected by the spill and have found themselves struggling to meet mortgage payments. Many holiday home owners have followed suit with the hotels and added attractive deals for customers.

Meanwhile Orlando’s vacation rentals have found themselves mostly booked, as the theme parks continue to pull in visitors.

In many regions of the panhandle it is hoped that visitors shall arrive soon to see how unaffected the region is. “There is no oil” says hotel owner Sam Collie. "Once they get here and see that it's all right, it's OK."

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