After the devastating impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton on the Tampa Bay area, Hillsborough County officials are eager to promote the region as a viable tourist destination. In a unanimous decision, the county commissioners approved a $6 million investment to support "recovery marketing" efforts. This move is aimed at reassuring visitors that the area is open for business, despite the ongoing clean-up and recovery process.
According to Visit Tampa Bay President Santiago Corrada, there is a perception among potential foreign visitors that the Tampa Bay area has been severely damaged. This has led to a dip in tourism, which is a crucial sector of the local economy. However, officials from the tourism promotion agency for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area contend that 80% of hotels and businesses are currently operational, despite the presence of debris and closed beaches.
The agency... Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, has emphasized the importance of tourists visiting the area to support local businesses during this challenging period. In a statement released on Friday, the agency encourages visitors to "come and support our local businesses when they need you most." Visitors can contribute to the recovery efforts by participating in beach cleanups, "attending fundraisers," "or making donations." The state tourism promotion agency has also announced plans to allocate $5. 7 million to promote Florida as a tourism destination following the hurricanes.
According to WFSU News... this significant investment aims to revitalize the tourism industry and restore public confidence in the state's ability to recover from natural disasters.
While it may take months - if not years - for some portions of the Tampa Bay area tourism industry to recover, Hillsborough County officials want to get out the word that they're open for business after the havoc wreaked by hurricanes this season. County commissioners voted unanimously last week to put $6 million into what's called "recovery marketing."
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