OFFICE OF TOURISM Oil Spill Media Points
Jim Hutchinson
Assistant Secretary
Louisiana Office of Tourism
(225) 342-8125
1.) The Louisiana Office of Tourism is concerned about the environmental and economic impacts of the oil spill on both the Louisiana Gulf Coast and other coastal states that may be affected by this disaster. We are monitoring the clean-up of the oil spill.
2.) The total impact of this event on the seafood industry and sportfishing is still unknown; however because these industries are directly related to Louisiana tourism, our stakeholders - entities like restaurants and charter fishing operators - will see the economic trickle-down effect. We stand prepared to offer whatever assistance we can provide to those entities, as well as to convention and visitors bureaus and tourist commissions in affected parishes.
3.) All state government agencies, including the offices of Louisiana's governor and lieutenant governor; President Obama's administration; the Department of Homeland Security; the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Guard; and the private sector oil industry have united their manpower, disaster resources and funding commitments to try to mitigate the environmental effects of the spill to Louisiana's coast.
4.) The affected coastal areas are not inhabited by humans and are only accessible by boat or by air, and they are distant geographically from inhabited areas. New Orleans is approximately 100 miles inland from affected areas and foresees no disruption in guest service or impacts to visitors.
5.) People, whether Louisiana residents or visitors, are not directly threatened by the oil spill neither at present or in forecasts.
6.) The Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, its Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency are overseeing all efforts to monitor the possible effects the spill may have on in-land areas. In the meantime, the agencies have increased the frequency of air quality sampling and monitoring. No human health hazards have been identified as of this morning, and no warnings have been issued by these agencies.
7.) While there are concerns related to possible impacts on the seafood and fishing industries, other aspects of Louisiana's tourism industry should see minimal negative effects related to the spill. Most activities that travelers like to do, see and experience in Louisiana are not in spill-affected areas.
8.) The gulf oil spill is a disaster of huge proportion. The Louisiana Office of Tourism and the tourism industry is concerned about the possible impact of damage to coast lines along the northern gulf. We support all efforts to take future steps to assure this type of disaster will not occur.
9.) Official information is being posted by the response team (Coast Guard, Homeland Security, NOAA, Department of the Interior, BP and Transocean) and updated several times each day at http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com and http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ or www.sbpg.net
Jack Warner
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Louisiana Office of Tourism
Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
(225)342-8125
jwarner@crt.state.la.us
