Gulf Oil Spill might Affect Tourism Business

Crude oil has been spilling into the Gulf of Mecixo since an offshore oil drilling rig exploded on April 20. So far almost none of the spilled oil has reached any land. Shifts in wind speed and wind direction could very well drive the dirty spill towards the US shore and scare the tourists.

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Oil Rig"]

photo credit: jeferonix[/caption]

A man from Clearwater, Florida told members of the media: "The other day there was a strange smell in the air. As if somebody was burning plastic bags. If I were a tourist, I would not appreciate that."

The tourism business is continuing to thrive for now. But somebody needs to clean up this mess. It's not necessarily really dangerous for humans, at least if you don't bathe in it for hours, but it certainly can be annoying.

As reported by JOHN FLESHER (AP): Farther up the coast at Shell Beach, marina operator and commercial fisherman Robert Campo said the smell gave him a headache as he collected oysters 20 miles offshore. "It was rotten," he said. The list of potential threats runs from minor nuisances such as runny noses and headaches to nausea. While waiting to see how bad things will get, public health agencies are monitoring air quality, drinking water supplies and seafood processing plants and advising people to take precautions.

CNN said: Boat captain Douglas Hammock, a lifelong Pensacola resident, fears the oil slick could impact the economy. Hammock repeated the words of so many business owners on the Gulf Coast: "This oil will be devastating to us," he said. "If this oil shows up here it will definitely shut down a big industry in the panhandle."

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignright" width="256" caption="Oil Rig"]

photo credit: accent on eclectic[/caption]

As ABC News reported: "Gulf Oil Spill Ruining Vibe on `Redneck Riviera'. Even with Fla. and Ala. beaches still white, Gulf oil spill ruining vibe on 'redneck Riviera'.

ABC is referring here to the white beaches of Alabama that are often frequented by girls in confederate-flag bikinis. The so called rednecks tend to like confederate flags.