In the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton on Florida’s Gulf Coast, tourism officials are urging people to visit the area as tourists to help with recovery efforts. Despite some beaches being closed and debris still present from the storms, 80% of hotels and businesses in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area are open and welcoming visitors. The tourism promotion agency, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, is encouraging people to support local businesses, participate in beach cleanups, attend fundraisers, and donate to aid in the recovery process.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a category 4 storm in Florida’s Big Bend region, while Hurricane Milton hit Sarasota County as a category 3 storm. In response to the impact of these storms, the state tourism promotion agency is planning to spend $5.7 million to promote Florida as a tourism destination. The campaign will focus on social media promotion of areas that were less affected by the hurricanes, such as Pensacola, Panama City Beach, and Islamorada. Additionally, the campaign will highlight areas like Naples and Fort Myers that have already recovered from the storms.
The second phase of the tourism promotion campaign will focus on areas impacted by the storms but have since recovered, such as Naples and Fort Myers. The last phase of the campaign will provide direct marketing assistance to the counties most affected by the storms, including St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and rural areas in the Panhandle. By promoting these areas and encouraging tourists to visit, the campaign aims to support local businesses, boost the local economy, and speed up the recovery process following the hurricanes.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is emphasizing the importance of tourism in the area’s recovery by encouraging people to visit, support local businesses, participate in cleanup efforts, attend fundraisers, and make donations. The agency recognizes that tourism plays a significant role in the Gulf Coast economy, and by promoting the region as a tourism destination, they hope to attract visitors and stimulate economic growth. By raising awareness of the recovery efforts and highlighting the areas that have reopened for tourism, the campaign aims to showcase the resilience of the area and encourage people to show their support through tourism.
As part of the tourism promotion campaign, the state tourism promotion agency is investing in marketing efforts to promote Florida as a tourist destination. By highlighting areas that were less affected by the storms, promoting areas that have already recovered, and providing direct marketing support to the most affected counties, the campaign aims to attract visitors and boost tourism in the region. Through social media promotions, direct marketing assistance, and targeted advertising, the campaign seeks to showcase the diverse attractions and resilient spirit of the Gulf Coast area, encouraging people to visit and support the recovery efforts.
Overall, the tourism promotion campaign aims to support the recovery of the Gulf Coast region following hurricanes Helene and Milton by promoting Florida as a tourist destination. By encouraging people to visit, support local businesses, participate in cleanup activities, attend fundraisers, and make donations, the campaign seeks to boost the local economy, showcase the resilience of the area, and help with the recovery process. Through targeted marketing efforts, the campaign hopes to attract visitors to the area, stimulate economic growth, and demonstrate the strength of the Gulf Coast community in the face of adversity.
