With the capping of the British Petroleum Oil Well in the Gulf Coast and subsequent clean-up (and not to mention President’s Obama’s well-publicized visit), businesses catering to the tourism trade began to see light at the end of an oil-slicked tunnel. Reservations have steadily increased and those who may have delayed visiting have begun to return with hoteliers and vendors from Florida to Texas advising an up-tick in tourism visits.
This morning, early reports by the Associated Press are advising of a potential oil rig explosion 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay along the Louisiana coast. The site of the rig explosion is west of the BP oil rig which exploded in April causing a major environmental challenge and months of mitigation and clean-up efforts. Early reports indicate 13 crew members were in the water, one injured, no fatalities. The platform is said to be "non-producing" positioned in 340 of water depth. The Deepwater Horizon was drilling at one-mile below the surface.
While businesses were more concerned about an active hurricane season impacting the last days of the summer tourist season, oil drilling rig issue will most negatively impact the region even if an oil spill is averted.
As a travel professional and advocate for travelers, I have stressed to clients to consider a visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast as an opportunity to assist those in need of tourism related spending.
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