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Though the beaches from the Treasure Coast continue to be no cost from the effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, tourism officials are becoming extremely diplomatic when asked whether they’re going to capitalize around the growing oil spill along the Gulf Coast.
“It could be a really bad issue to make the most of,” stated Rozeta Mahboubi, executive director of the Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We work with those for the Gulf Coast and we sympathize with them. We don’t want negative publicity anywhere in Florida.”
Jeanne Radlet, general manager on the historic Driftwood Resort in Vero Beach, said they will tell people with reservations who have expressed concerns about the spill that the local beaches continue to be oil free.
However, they aren’t going to run promotions that indicate Florida’s east coast beaches continue to be clean although the oil slick threatens the Gulf of Mexico.
“I don’t want to jinx the other side in the state and I certainly wouldn’t want that to happen to us,” Radlet said.
In a state annually threatened by hurricanes and other natural disasters, Charlotte Lombard, St. Lucie County tourism coordinator, agreed.
“I would not use a natural disaster as an opportunity, given the fact we work with the counties that could be affected,” she mentioned.
Still, Mahboubi acknowledged if the spill doesn’t get pulled into the loop current that could bring the pollution to the Treasure Coast and other areas with the east coast, that could help the region’s hotels and other tourism-related industries.
“People will go where the beaches are better, I don’t think we have to do anything intentionally,” she mentioned. “It will probably help us naturally, just like it usually does. When stuff happens in one area, they are pushed to another area.”
Because tourists spend $60 billion a year in the state, generating almost a quarter on the state’s sales tax, Visit Florida — the state’s tourism arm — has posted on its website an update on the oil spill that includes the comment, “Currently, there are no impacts to our beaches and shores.”
Also, Gov. Charlie Crist wants BP to pay for a $35 million tourism campaign to ease the minds of would-be travelers to Florida.
The state Department of Environmental Protection, in its daily update Friday, reported the oil spill is 75 miles southwest of Pensacola, 25 miles closer than it was on Tuesday. The slick was also 340 miles from St. Petersburg and 90 miles from the Loop Current on Friday.
Gary Guertin, general manager of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina in Stuart and host on the weekly “Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast” on WPSL 1590 AM, stated the tourism offices should work with the state to overcome the misconception that often occurs when a hurricane hits one part on the Florida.
“I think everybody, no matter whether for the east coast or the west coast, has to send a message out in unison that Florida is open for business, please come to the destination of your choice, and everything is good,” Guertin stated. “It’s not just about bringing people to your area, it’s keeping people coming to Florida period.”
Harborage already has seen a little benefit from the spill. A 108-foot privately owned boat that was destined for Texas has remained docked in Stuart for a week rather than risk traveling through the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Guertin said.
“That’s just one large vessel. There could be others that are going back to the gulf, but they choose not to go back,” Guertin stated.
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