Will storm impact blow away Florida tourism?
Storm-weary Florida’s tourism industry wasted no time in recovery mode after the fourth hurricane assaulted much of the state.
Walt Disney World re-opened the day after hurricane Jeanne roared through Florida.
The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau also immediately sent out notices that the area’s popular visitor corridor did not sustain significant damage as a result of Hurricane Jeanne.
To counter the negative publicity, Florida’s tourism agency wants a $30 million emergency marketing campaign — more than it spent after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks sent the travel industry into a tailspin.
And hotels are pressing conventions to return to Florida next summer and fall amid concerns that meeting planners won’t risk letting the weather ruin their events.
”Because of what transpired this year, people will be a little more gun shy about booking during hurricane season,” said Barney Lusina, a meeting planner based in Santa Ana, Calif., quoted in The Miami Herald.
Previous hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan upset the schedules of various Caribbean sailings, forcing at least a half-dozen cruises to be canceled while dozens of others have sailed with modified itineraries. That has meant visiting ports other than those scheduled to steer clear of bad weather or shortening some cruises.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism reported that only two islands within the 700-island chain were affected by Hurricane Jeanne. The island’s number one tourist destination, Nassau/Paradise Island, had no impact from the storm and is operating in a business-as-usual mode.
Hurricanes shut down a few hotels in Florida, but most have re-opened.
And the long-term impact on tourism? Opinions were mixed.
“Considering the amount of hit we’ve taken, the state as a whole has survived remarkably well,” said Visit Florida spokesman Tom Flanigan.
Orlando resident and tourism consultant Peter Yesowich, however, was quoted as saying the storms collectively could harm the industry.
“Normally, I would say, even hit by two hurricanes, we would be fully recovered by Thanksgiving, but I think people are going to be a little more nervous,” he said.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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