Southern beach towns rebound after oil spill
Beach towns from Alabama through the Florida Panhandle have had a strong summer 2011 rebound after a 2010 marred by tar balls, crude oil sheen, and cleanup crews and equipment ruining the views for beach-goers, reports Forbes.
"Tourists don't even mention the spill now. They haven't mentioned it really at all in the last six months," said John Ehrenreich, owner of Bonifay Water Sports in Pensacola.
Tourism leaders say the post-spill economic bounce is fueled in part by an influx from the cause of the spill, BP. The giant oil company has spent millions to promote Gulf Coast beaches.
Another factor for the string of white sand beaches from Alabama to Florida's Panhandle has been making it through the end of August without any disruptions from tropical storms or hurricanes.
While hurricane season isn't over yet, the biggest storm so far this year, Irene, spared the area when it veered farther north.
Pensacola Beach bested a June 2008 record for county lodging tax revenues this year by already bringing in US$1 million. County tourism officials say the numbers for cars passing through the toll booth entrance to Pensacola Beach this summer are on target to break records.
The city of Pensacola also had a record summer tourist season.
By David Wilkening
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