Farmweek Television Show Script
Script from the August 27, 2010 segment
>> SPANN - IN SPITE OF THE MASSIVE CLEAN UP FOLLOWING THE GULF COAST OIL SPILL, THE COAST’S ECONOMY IS STILL ABSORBING THE AFTER-EFFECTS.
SINCE THE DISASTER, COAST MERCHANTS HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN SALES AND VISITORS.
AT THE RECENT “MISSISSIPPI-LOUISIANA REGIONAL TOURISM SUMMIT,” TOURISM OFFICIALS DISCUSSED WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CLEAR UP MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE GULF'S CONDITION.
FARMWEEK'S AMY TAYLOR REPORTS FROM BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI.
>>>> TAKE PKG
>> REPORTER: AMY TAYLOR
ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST, IT IS HARD TO FIND A TRACE OF THE GULF'S OIL SPILL AFTER THE CLEAN-UP.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE AFTERMATH CONTINUES TO TAKE A TOLL ON LOCAL BUSINESS.
WARD EMLING, WITH MISSISSIPPI TOURISM DIVISION, TALKS ABOUT THE "OIL-STAINED" LOCAL ECONOMY.
>> WARD EMLING, MISSISSIPPI TOURISM DIVISION
"THERE WAS A, THE PERCEPTION THAT THE OIL WAS EVERYWHERE, THAT YOU COULDN'T STEP ON A BEACH.
YOU GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT IN SOME PLACES YOU COULDN'T STEP ON THE STREET WITHOUT STEPPING IN OIL DOWN ON THE MISSISSIPPI COAST, OR ALONG THE COASTS OF THE WHOLE GULF.
AND IT DID AFFECT OUR TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES DOWN HERE.
IT CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CANCEL AND POST-PONE VACATIONS AND WEDDINGS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS."
>> REPORTER:
FORTUNATELY, WITH BAY ST. LOUIS AS THE LOCATION FOR THE MISS-LOU REGIONAL TOURISM SUMMIT, VISITORS SAW THAT THE AREA IS ANYTHING BUT DEFECTED.
BAY-WAVELAND MAIN STREET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHERRI BEVIS DESCRIBES WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SUMMER, WHEN BUSINESS IS USUALLY BOOMING.
>> SHERRI BEVIS, EXEC. DIRECTOR
BAY-WAVELAND MAIN ST. ASSOC.
"IT'S REALLY BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THE MERCHANTS HAVE SEEN LESS TRAFFIC.
WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN SOME YOU KNOW, INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.
BECAUSE REALLY, THERE'S A LOT TO DO HERE OTHER THAN JUST BEING ON THE WATER.
WE LOVE THE WATER, IT'S A GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAVE GREAT SHOPS AND GREAT COMMUNITY PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO.
MISSISSIPPI TOURISM DIVISION HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT SAYING BASICALLY, HEY, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CHANGE THAT IMAGE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE OK, AND THEY CAN STILL COME DOWN, THEY CAN STILL EAT THE SEAFOOD, THEY CAN STILL HAVE A LOT OF FUN."
>> REPORTER:
BEVIS ASSURES EVERYONE THE GULF COAST NOT ONLY WELCOMES VISITORS AND RESIDENTS, BUT ENCOURAGES NEW MERCHANTS AND BUSINESSES.
"CELEBRATING CHANGE WHILE OVERCOMING CHALLENGES" WAS QUITE FITTING AS THE OFFICIAL THEME FOR THE MISS-LOU REGIONAL TOURISM SUMMIT.
THE EVENT IS SPONSORED BY VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY AND L-S-U AGRICULTURAL CENTER.