NEWS RELEASES
Southern Florida RV Parks Report Limited Impact From Red Tide
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Woodall's Campground Management's website.
Woodall’s Campground Management reports that the red tide outbreak along the southern Florida coast has had only a limited impact on tourism. According to Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO of the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (Florida ARVC), only 15% of the parks in the association have reported a “very significant” impact. Cornwell reached out to member parks along the West and SW portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast where the red tide is centered, and found that 85% of owners reported they have not seen any decline in business. However, those closest to the red tide saw a decrease in reservations of up to 90 percent, Cornwell said. Florida ARVC plans to provide members with talking points and red tide information so they can educate their campers.
A naturally occurring problem caused by the bloom of toxic algae, the current red tide outbreak started in October 2017. Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for seven counties on Aug. 15 — Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas, those most affected by the outbreak. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reports that around 145 miles of coastline are currently affected.
Continuing updates on the red tide outbreak can be found on the FWC website.