County hopes to see part of $25 million BP grant for tourism

In an effort to boost the local tourism industry, which has seen a decrease in interested visitors since the Aug. 20 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, BP awarded tourism grants to four Gulf States on Monday.

BP is providing $25 million to Florida and $15 million each to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

However, local tourist advisors are wary that the money, which was given directly to Visit Florida-  a state agency created to market the state, will be used to market Orlando and the Keys, instead of the Panhandle.

For more on this story, see the May 20 issue of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.