Update on Destin Florida May 17 2010

Destin Harbor, the home of the "world's luckiest fishing village" was quiet today, possibly because of the "shoulder weeks" between spring breaks and summer vacationers. However, Tony, the first mate on the "Destin Snorkel" boat says business is down about 20% compared to this time last year. According to Val Costley, at the reservation desk for Destin Snorkel, he says that "some resorts are reporting up to 90% cancellation because people are frightened." More economic damage can potentially be done due to "the fear factor" than the actual problem caused by the Deep Horizon Oil Spill (a misnomer--not a "spill!")

While British Petroleum has said they will "pay all damages" caused by this accident, residents are becoming alarmed about what constitutes a "verifiable" loss. For rental property owners that were already struggling under the pressure of the real estate boom and bust, this catastrophe just might be the last nail in the coffin. Many of those businesses who were trying to survive long enough for the real estate market to rebound will find the cancellations something from which they cannot recover.

So far, we are not "unlucky", but if vacationer's stop coming because of "fear" we might become just that!

Category:

Travel & Events

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• gulf
• oil
• spill
• destin
• florida