MarketWatch: Spill could mean dark times for Sunshine State

[marmar]

June 3, 2010, 7:57 p.m. EDT ·

Spill could mean dark times for Sunshine State
Bad timing: Oil oozes closer as Florida started seeing a rebound in visitors

By William Spain, MarketWatch


CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Already reeling from a real-estate crisis and deep economic slump, Florida faces yet another financial cataclysm if oil from the Gulf spill mars its famous shores, scaring away crucial tourist traffic and wreaking havoc on its fisheries.

Beaches are big business in the Sunshine State. At stake there alone are hundreds of thousands of jobs and perhaps billions of dollars in revenue, depending on when and where the oil from BP PLC's runaway well makes landfall.

Although the beaches were still in the clear as of Thursday afternoon, widespread reports of vacation cancellations are already coming in. Also, the pace of new bookings in many areas has slowed, especially in the Panhandle, which looks likely to be the first -- and maybe the worst -- area affected.

Ocean tourism (as opposed to that offered by Orlando theme parks) and recreation are among Florida's main industries, contributing an estimated $20 billion a year to the state's economy, data from the National Ocean Economics Program show. In 2008, 84.2 million visitors spent over $65 billion in Florida, supporting the more than 1 million residents directly employed by the tourism industry, according to Visit Florida, the state's official tourism-marketing arm.

To stay ahead of the slick and reassure jittery travelers, Florida tourism officials are taking to the airwaves with an ad campaign -- funded by a $25 million grant from BP. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spill-could-mean-dark-times-for-sunshine-state-2010-06-03

[charlesg]

1. Darker times

People have been leaving Fla. in droves.

[SoFlaJet]

2. I know my tips haven't been the same

for a few years now. As a working musician I can only hope the bar I play at stays open until the season gets here in 6 months-scary times down here I'll tell you that.

[midnight]

3. I wonder if the rebound of visitors is because Jeb is gone?

[Not Me]

4. I am wondering what effect this might have on Orlando

As Florida's largest inland city, it is beachless, and that has always been a minus in terms of tourism potential.
Ironically, the theme parks may pick up some of the business that previously headed to the coastal areas.

[JNelson6563]

5. Anyone who doesn't get that the gulf states are screwed

is truly clueless. It's coming ashore. It's going to suck mightily. People will move away from the stink and the oily rain in large numbers. Wait till a hurricane hits and all that oily water is sucked up and dumped on land.

Large democgraphic changes coming to America.

Julie