The US state of Florida is still reeling in the wake of the ongoing recession, a record cold winter and the effects of the Gulf oil spill.
All of these factors have in turn contributed to a stall in tourist traffic to the state throughout 2010.
The Hubbard family, owners and operators of a marina complex and seafood restaurant in Madeira Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast, experienced turmoil last year.
“It was incredibly scary, because we didn't know if we were going to get oil” on nearby Florida beaches, said Kathleen McDole, a Hubbard sister whose Friendly Fisherman restaurant saw a 20 percent decline in business compared to 2009, according to USA Today.
Florida’s tourism industry employs approximately 1 million people and accounts for more than one-fifth of the state’s total sales tax revenue.
Prior to the oil spill, the state of Florida experienced freezing temperatures in January, spooking potential visitors and driving business away.
CEO and president of Visit Florida Chris Thompson was aware of the implications of these unfortunate events.
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“The collective impacts of the economic downturn, and certainly the oil spill, were as significant a challenge as we've (ever) had to face.
“We realize we are in the recovery and restoration stage, and it's yet to be determined the extent of those two stages,” he said.
In light of the recent business downturn, Mr Thompson said Florida is expected to reap benefits from the Tourism Promotion Act, which was passed by Congress in February and created a non-profit corporation to promote U.S. tourism overseas
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