Governor Crist Announces $7-Million BP Grant for Northwest Florida Tourism Marketing

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today announced BP will provide $7 million to the Northwest Florida Travel Council for tourism marketing and advertising.  Expressing appreciation for the grant, Governor Crist promptly sent a letter to BP’s Doug Suttles, requesting another $43 million from BP to complete a second round of a tourism marketing and advertising campaign. On June 30, 2010, Governor Crist requested $50 million for this purpose.

“As I hear from business and tourism industry leaders throughout our coastal communities, it is clear we must continue working to convince potential visitors to our state that our beautiful beaches are clean and open,” Governor Crist said. “While we appreciate BP’s commitment, we must insist on full support of Florida’s $60-billion-a-year tourism industry.”

The additional $43 million Governor Crist requested today would be used to promote tourism to coastal areas of the state.  Because of the tourism industry’s key role in the financial well-being of Florida’s economy, Governor Crist emphasized the need to address misperceptions held by potential travelers to the Sunshine State through tourism marketing and advertising.

The Northwest Florida Travel Council is a partnership of local tourist development councils of Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties.  They will use the funds to provide real-time information about the status of beaches in their areas and garner positive media coverage, as well as run television, radio, print and Web-based advertising.

On May 12, 2010, Governor Crist first requested $34.75 million from BP to create an immediate marketing campaign to counter negative, widespread information that potential visitors to Florida are receiving about the oil spill’s impact on Florida’s beaches and waters. Later that month, Florida received $25 million from BP for Visit Florida and local tourist development councils to air a tourism marketing campaign with ads reflecting the accurate condition of Florida’s beaches.