"Book a Room, Eat an Oyster"

Ironically, some visitors to St. George Island are learning that now may be the best time to book their summer getaway. Lodging providers from Apalachicola to Alligator Point are enticing guests with quick getaway deals, reduced rates or shortened cancellation deadlines designed to attract visitors who otherwise might be hesitant to come to the coast because of the recent Louisiana offshore oil spill.

It's an uphill battle and it's not been anybody's idea of a fun marketing campaign.

Lodging providers all along this stretch of Northwest Florida's Natural Coast say they have been hit hard in the last two weeks due to cancellations, slow reservations and nervous inquiries from guests about cancellation/refund policies should the coastline be impacted by oil.

What oil?

There is no oil on Franklin County beaches. The area is nowhere close to being on NOAA's trajectory map. You want to visit the coast? Now's the time. The vacation deals are out there and you're probably going to get a good seat in one of the local seafood restaurants.

Weary tourism industry officials work overtime these days trying to salvage some of summer for the State's vacation industry. In Franklin County, the message is simple: most lodging providers have policies in place, or are currently revising theirs, to protect visitors if area beaches are closed due to this potential environmental tragedy. Got a reservation? Check with your lodging provider if you have a question or need clarification about cancellation policies.

With regard to beach conditions, same message: We're ok so far but if you are planning a trip to our area and are concerned about any potential impact from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, call or email your local lodging provider in order to get the most up-to-date information on your specific accommodation. In Franklin County, visit www.anaturalescape.com for a comprehensive list of Franklin County accommodations. While you’re there, sign up to receive regular TDC updates on local conditions.

And eat some seafood for heavens' sake!

In addition to the impact on local tourism related businesses, big media news coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has hurt Florida’s seafood industry. And in Franklin County, it has hurt an already struggling fishing and oystering community that is still reeling from a recent FDA attempt to shut down summer oystering.

“I am concerned about misconceptions that are circulating about the safety and availability of Florida seafood,” said Charles H. Bronson, Florida Comissioner of Agriculture in a recent release. “ Because of these false impressions, our state’s commercial fishing industry has suffered a severe economic blow."

Bronson says he wants to set the record straight.

“Florida seafood products are safe and plentiful,” Bronson says. “They have not been affected by the oil spill. More than 90 percent of the Gulf of Mexico is untouched by oil, and our commercial fishermen continue to harvest products from these clean waters.”

According to Bronson, state officials continually monitoring water samples off Florida's coast, including off Franklin County's coast.

And, so far so good.

“Franklin County seafood is just fine,” said Joseph (Smokey) Parrish, Franklin County Commission Chairman and seafood business leader. “We're taking steps to protect the bay early and we're throwing everything we got into keeping the resources safe. We're harvesting in clean waters and always will. No shrimper or oysterman that I know would ever put any product on the market that would tarnish the Apalachicola Bay oyster and seafood reputation.”

Franklin County's message? Book a room, eat an oyster...

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