A group of residents from St Louis have announced they will soon leave on a caravan to support local businesses devastated by the oil spill on the Gulf coast. They will stop along the way and spend money which been donated by people from all across America. The group will keep an online blog where people can keep track of their route and experiences.
Organizer Dennis Gorg released a statement saying “We’ve learned of so many businesses in the Gulf region that are losing their customers, employees and dreams because of the impact on tourism. As a small business owner, I can’t imagine how I’d support the people who depend on me. We can do something. We can become tourists with a purpose.”
Significant damage has been done to the Gulf coast’s tourism industry. Holiday goers have stopped coming, business is slowing and communities are slowly breaking apart. Staff have had to be laid off, people have lost their jobs and people who have lived on the Gulf coast there are whole lives are being forced to consider moving away. Stunts like the Gulf coast caravan are not only about spending money where it is needed but also encouraging others to do the same. It’s about showing Americans that the Gulf coast is still a great place for a holiday despite the oil spill and that now more than ever their local industries need to be supported. The Gulf coast will only ever return to its former glory when Americans begin holidaying there again.
The local fishing industries have also been hit hard with many local fishermen being unable to finish due to the large quantities of oil in the water. Much of the oil has now been cleaned up and some industries are starting to see a recovery but there is still a long way to go. Oil is expected to continue washing-up on beaches for the next few months in tar balls and tar mats and will have to be cleaned up manually.
One piece of good news to come out of the spill is that scientists have been studying its effect on marine life and they are yet to see anything of any concern.
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