TALLAHASSEE — Eager to counteract harmful misinformation about the oil spill, the Florida League of Cities on Thursday began an advertising campaign promoting Panhandle tourism.
"We never really were impacted by the oil at all — maybe a few tar balls here and there in the June-July timeframe — but it's over," Mayor Sarah "Sam" Seevers of Destin said. "We need to put a nail in the coffin of the myths that have been happening. Our beaches are beautiful. The water is clear. It's safe to eat the seafood."
The "Fall in love with Northwest Florida" campaign is aimed at state residents.
The spots feature the mayors of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach tossing a beach ball and extolling the virtues of Panhandle vacationing.
"Our member cities were deeply impacted by the BP oil spill at the height of their tourist season," said Rebecca O'Hara, legislative affairs director for the League of Cities.
Anderson said that in July, normally the peak of the tourist season when they book Florida Villas, Disney villas in advance , vacation-related revenues were off by about 23 percent in the region.
The state got millions from BP for tourism advertising, but Anderson said the money is running out.
Janice Caluda, vice president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, said her organization will donate four free TV spots for every one paid for by the League of Cities. She said the commercials will run all over the state for six months.
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http://www.pnj.com/article/20101210/NEWS01/12100329/1006/NEWS01/Gulf-Coast-cities-hope-ads-boost-tourism
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