Florida Extends Tourism Boost to Gulf Coast Locales Hurt by Red Tide
Photo Credit: This year's red tide in Florida is one of the state's worst on record. Pictured is a red tide warning sign at a beach in Brevard, Florida in 2015. Flickr / boxer_bob
Skift Take
Much of Florida's beaches remain pristine and algae-free and other parts of the state are seeing a boost as tourists relocate their vacations. This year's red tide is the latest wake-up call to climate change that the state's tourism industry has had to grapple with.
Red tide, a naturally occurring toxic algae, has been killing fish and causing respiratory issues along Florida's Gulf Coast in recent months. The widespread bloom has also put business in the red for some affected destinations and hotels as tourists cancel or alter trips.
Red tide causes respiratory irritation for some people while others don't experience any symptoms. Some affected beaches advise people to stay out of the water or swim at their own risk.
Florida is the most visited U.S. state and had more than 118 million visitors last year – a record for the state. Visit Florida, the state's tourism board, launched a free marketing partnership last month for affected destinations. As part of the partnership, which runs through February 2019, destinations will get increased exposure on Visit Florida's site and social media channels to communicate the status of the red tide or dispel myths about whether or not it's safe to visit. The organization also created a $500,000 grant
