BP announced that it has made its third payment of $10 million as part of a $30 million program established earlier this year to support tourism marketing in Northwest Florida. The payment follows news earlier in October that bed tax revenue numbers from the seven destination counties of northwest Florida this summer have achieved significant increases as a result of the strong tourist season.
“The Northwest Florida Tourism Council is very appreciative to receive our third and final installment of the $30 million tourism grant from BP,” said NWFTC Chairperson Dawn Moliterno, the executive director of Visit South Walton. “This demonstrates their commitment to restore Northwest Florida tourism. The results have already been demonstrated with the recent significant increases in bed tax collection.”
Bed tax receipts in the seven counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin, indicate the summer season was far ahead of 2010 and in some cases had achieved historically high levels.
“BP is very pleased to have provided this support to the Northwest Florida Tourism Council," said Mike Utsler, head of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization. "We congratulate the region's tourism leaders on their successful efforts.”
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