Gulf Coast tourism tries to clean up

Tuesday 15 June 2010 14:45 EDT

(AFP PHOTO/Adalberto Roque)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Online booking site Orbitz is to offer tourists a full refund on their Florida hotel if the beach at their destination is closed due to the BP oil slick, as the tourism industry on the Gulf Coast struggles to retain its image as one of the top holiday destinations in the US.

The company said June 14 that customers who have a standalone hotel booking between June 14 and July 31 will be eligible for a full refund on their hotel stay if a government agency closes, or declares dangerous, a beach within 20 miles (32 km).

Orbitz has formalized what many establishments were already doing, with Kathy Torian, a spokeswoman for state tourism authority Visit Florida, recently telling AP that a number of hotels and rental condos in the area have adopted "worry-free cancellation policies" to help consumers.

Beaches along the Gulf coastline have been subject to intermittent closure since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in April, washing up oil and tar balls on some beaches.

However, authorities are keen to impress upon visitors that most of the region’s beaches remain open for business, with President Obama saying that one of the best ways to help is to visit the region.

Lousiana, which has borne the brunt of the spill, is telling tourists "You can still play in Louisiana," while on June 14, the Florida Keys and Key West tourism council launched a new feature to "correct Gulf spill misperceptions."

Ther new site encourages visitors to upload date-stamped videos of themselves enjoying the water, and offers up a network of webcams so prospective visitors can check the sites for themselves.

See the predicted trajectory and impact of the slick: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/

Beach quality reports

Alabama: http://www.adph.org
Florida: http://esetappsdoh.doh.state.fl.us/irm00beachwater/default.aspx
Louisiana: http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=207
Mississippi: http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf
Texas: http://www.TexasBeachWatch.com/