Oil Spill, Will it help or hurt the Orlando area?

[byrley168]

Several days ago we were discussing the impact on the tourist trade the gulf oil spill will have on Florida. Will people cancel their Florida trips all together, head to the Atlantic coast, or stay in central Florida?

 

[momof1princess]

i don't know anyone who has canceled their gulf coast/florida panhandle beach trip SO FAR, but oil is now washing up there, so i'm sure there will be plenty of people who cancel and rebook for other areas of florida or the atlantic coast.

 

[Carly_Roach]

It may help the Orlando, or any inland, tourist destination.

To back out and look at the big picture, there are plenty of beaches available in the US that don't front the Gulf of Mexico. We have miles of shorelines on the Atlantic or Pacific coasts, as well as miles of lake shorelines here in my own state of Michigan. People who like to vacation at the beach will find somewhere else to go.

My biggest concerns over this oil spill are

• The people who rely on that region for their livelihood
• What impact this disaster will have on our food supply
• The long term effects on the delicate natural balance of the oceans surrounding our country

Tourism doesn't even make the top ten as far as I'm concerned. YMMV.

 

[Planogirl]

I bet that people set on a beach vacation will just go to another beach area. I can't imagine substituting a themepark vacation.

 

[Planogirl]

It may help the Orlando, or any inland, tourist destination.

To back out and look at the big picture, there are plenty of beaches available in the US that don't front the Gulf of Mexico. We have miles of shorelines on the Atlantic or Pacific coasts, as well as miles of lake shorelines here in my own state of Michigan. People who like to vacation at the beach will find somewhere else to go.

My biggest concerns over this oil spill are

• The people who rely on that region for their livelihood
• What impact this disaster will have on our food supply
• The long term effects on the delicate natural balance of the oceans surrounding our country

Tourism doesn't even make the top ten as far as I'm concerned. YMMV.

You mentioned first people who rely on the region for their livelihood. Don't forget that a lot of those people are involved in the tourist industry.

 

[JimmyPicker]

Plano is exactly right.

There are hundreds of charter boat captains on the Louisiana Gulf shore who are out of work at the moment because no one is going to go fishing there. And there are the bed and breakfasts and hotels that those people would have stayed in. Plus the bait and tackle shops that supply the tourist fishermen.

 

[Carly_Roach]

You mentioned first people who rely on the region for their livelihood. Don't forget that a lot of those people are involved in the tourist industry.

My first concern is with the food supply and the people who work in that industry. Of the necessities in life, everyone - no matter who you are - shares three main ones:

Food
Clothing
Shelter

Tourism doesn't make the list. Heck, it's not even in the top 20.

Tourism is a service, a convenience, that can be provided anywhere. While there may be people whose tourism businesses are decimated by the oil spill, there are far more who provide food to our country, and put food on their own tables, by plying the waters for that food. I feel more badly for the people who were barely eeking by trying to feed their families based on making their income during the fishing season than I ever will for those whose jobs were to show people of wealth a good time.

 

[momof1princess]

in alabama, our tourist industry has already been heavily affected. seafood restaurants are almost deserted, according to the news reports, and have been for several weeks. oil is washing up here now, so while i don't know anyone personally who has canceled their trip to the gulf coast, i'm sure there are many who have. fishermen cannot go out and fish, and people are now being warned to stay off the beaches. many people have already lost, or are quickly losing, their livelihood. it's a disaster of unimaginable magnitude, and it's only getting started here, with no end in sight.

 

[kimmar067]

...I'm thinking that, since Orlando [obviously] is not on the coast, folks'll change their reservations and head for the middle of the state...

 

[Planogirl]

My first concern is with the food supply and the people who work in that industry. Of the necessities in life, everyone - no matter who you are - shares three main ones:

Food
Clothing
Shelter

Tourism doesn't make the list. Heck, it's not even in the top 20.

Tourism is a service, a convenience, that can be provided anywhere. While there may be people whose tourism businesses are decimated by the oil spill, there are far more who provide food to our country, and put food on their own tables, by plying the waters for that food. I feel more badly for the people who were barely eeking by trying to feed their families based on making their income during the fishing season than I ever will for those whose jobs were to show people of wealth a good time.

People of wealth? You apparently aren't too familiar with many areas of the gulf coast.

My parents often went to tiny beach towns in that area because that is what they could afford for a while. There are nice places of course but there are also places to stay that are very affordable.

I don't think that those who fish are any more important than the lady who cleans a hotel room or a waitress who serves food in a cafe. There are historic places, shopping venues, small carnivals, places to rent boats and so on where people work and rely on the tourist industry. To me anyone who needs to make a living and can't is just as important as anyone else.

 

[JimmyPicker]

My first concern is with the food supply and the people who work in that industry. Of the necessities in life, everyone - no matter who you are - shares three main ones:

Food
Clothing
Shelter

Tourism doesn't make the list. Heck, it's not even in the top 20.

Tourism is a service, a convenience, that can be provided anywhere. While there may be people whose tourism businesses are decimated by the oil spill, there are far more who provide food to our country, and put food on their own tables, by plying the waters for that food. I feel more badly for the people who were barely eeking by trying to feed their families based on making their income during the fishing season than I ever will for those whose jobs were to show people of wealth a good time.

But those peoples jobs are on the line. They're left with no income, therefore, they aren't feeding their families, just like the fishermen aren't feeding their families.

They're in the same boat.

I have a feeling that you're talking specifically about tourism as an industry, and not considering the fact that the people working in that industry are just as affected as the fishermen.

And I have a feeling that you think by "tourism" we mean the local Super 8 hotel chain, but that's not what we're talking about.

We're talking about the person who works cleaning the rooms of that Super 8 hotel chain who is laid off because no one is staying there anymore.

Out of a job because of the oil spill is out of a job, regardless if you're a shrimper or crabber or oysterman or if you're the guy working in the tackle shop selling fishing rods.

 

[kidzmom3]

I know that our group was going to go to a competition in Pensacola next winter and they have now decided against it. They are now looking at one in Myrtle Beach unless the oil enters the northern current and comes up the east coast.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I don't think that those who fish are any more important than the lady who cleans a hotel room or a waitress who serves food in a cafe. There are historic places, shopping venues, small carnivals, places to rent boats and so on where people work and rely on the tourist industry. To me anyone who needs to make a living and can't is just as important as anyone else.

You are entitled to your opinions, just as I am. And this is a very good example of how people see life through the filters of their own environment. I live in a Depression state where the very basics of life are the first (and in many cases, the ONLY) priority. Therefore my filters are set on needs rather than wants.

I'm not discounting the need of the maids and restaurant workers to make a living; obviously they have to make money to survive as well. I'm just stating that, in my opinion, the needs of a people who supply a basic necessity to many people (FOOD) take a higher priority. Kind of like how I'll support the farmers far more than I'll support the financial analysts or medical billing clerks.

As a people, we NEED food; we don't NEED a hotel room, a prime vacation spot or a charter boat captain who will tell someone with money to burn where they can snag the biggest tuna for that trophy shot.

As I said before, though, YMMV. Many people's filters are set differently from mine.

 

[Planogirl]

You are entitled to your opinions, just as I am. And this is a very good example of how people see life through the filters of their own environment. I live in a Depression state where the very basics of life are the first (and in many cases, the ONLY) priority. Therefore my filters are set on needs rather than wants.

I'm not discounting the need of the maids and restaurant workers to make a living; obviously they have to make money to survive as well. I'm just stating that, in my opinion, the needs of a people who supply a basic necessity to many people (FOOD) take a higher priority. Kind of like how I'll support the farmers far more than I'll support the financial analysts or medical billing clerks.

As a people, we NEED food; we don't NEED a hotel room, a prime vacation spot or a charter boat captain who will tell someone with money to burn where they can snag the biggest tuna for that trophy shot.

As I said before, though, YMMV. Your filters are set differently from mine.

I like that concept of filters. And you're right, mine are different.

 

[byrley168]

My concern are the people who split their time between the beach and the parks. Do those people cancel their Florida trip all together. One would hope those people re-book to central Florida or other inland destinations or the Atlantic coast. I feel those destinations in the Alabama, Louisiana, Florida area not harmed by the spill should really pour on the deals. This is not to take advantage of those hurt by the spill but to bring in as much business to the state as possible. Tourism dollars are as vital to those states as the fishing industries. The states will need that revenue to help those hurt the most by the spill. If you know anybody thinking about cancelling a trip to any of the gulf states, strongly urge them to reconsider. The tourism dollar will no doubt aid in the recovery and clean up of the region.

 

[skater]

Personally, we are booked at Disney World this summer but were planning on taking a trip to Sanibel Island during our trip. We're in wait and see mode. I would not book my entire vacation at Sanibel or anywhere else on the gulf this year - that would be foolish - who wants to spend precious vacation time or dollars on a beach area if it might be covered with oil? Its so sad.

I feel so bad for all the people who depend on fisheries and/or tourism to survive. These people will be messed up for a long time and some will never get back on their feet.

 

[PlainJane]

I live on the coast of Virginia, and my family has timeshare properties on the North Carolina coast. We're all waiting with baited breath to see if the devastation will hit us. People were already walking on eggshells around here because it's very likely we're going to lose a lot of our military, now we might lose our tourism industry too.

I know to some the tourism industry seems shallow and not worth saving, but I'd like to think the city that I've lived in all my life is.

I always thought it would be a hurricane.

 

[rie'smom]

Our economy was one of the bright spots in the country during the last crisis. We had the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Now, families who for generations have fished and trawled for seafood will see their traditional way of life disappear.

I grew up "down the bayou" where boys would join their family's seafood business right out of high school. Their great, great- great, and some great-great-great grandfathers had started the business.

Others would work offshore in the oil industry. Now, their jobs too are going to end.

Think of your region- I know people in the auto industry can identify- work that kept families going has disappeared.

We have a camp (lake house) in the swamp-we're inland and many would think that we won't be affected by the spill. However, we love to sit on the deck and watch the pelicans fly. There was one that I watched every morning about 11. It would sit on the deck railing. I haven't seen this beautiful bird since about a week after the spill.

Other friends have camps on Grand Isle. They're sick. That little barrier island depended on fishing and tourism. At least-hopefully, they can clean the beach.

Except for the deaths, this oil spill is worse than Katrina. Cleanup was possible after that disaster. It's impossible to cleanup the swamps along the coast.

Our area of the world has changed forever.

 

[skater]

rie'smom - I'm so sorry for everyone down there. I think everybody feels so much more helpless about this than Katrina. It seems like there's not much anyone can do - its just so huge.

 

[rie'smom]

rie'smom - I'm so sorry for everyone down there. I think everybody feels so much more helpless about this than Katrina. It seems like there's not much anyone can do - its just so huge.

Thank-you.
Hopefully, this catastrophe will result in new ways to prevent this type of accident in the future. One of the dumbest things that has come out is that BP refused to use a $500,000 part that would have stopped the whole thing in the first place. Instead, they used a cheaper part. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess. I bet they're kicking themselves because that $500,000 is a very tiny amount of money in comparison to what the cleanup will cost much less any lawsuits that will inevitably result.