Gulf Shores tourism needs a new approach.

I hear news stories how the BP ecological disaster has killed the Gulf Shores tourism industry. I also hear the sad advertisements trying to stimulate the tourism where they take the approach along the lines of "we're watching the beaches carefully and are doing everything we can to keep them beautiful for you so come one and visit."

That's just sad. What they need is some innovative thinking to attract people to the area since they are dependent on income and revenue from tourism.

I thought about the problem and came up with a solution I believe would work.

Gulf Shores Tourism Ad...

(Aerial view of disaster site, stock footage. Narrator begins speaking.)

On April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded resulting in the most massive oil spill and ecological disaster in the history of mankind.

(Transition to aerial footage in motion over the ocean showing oil.)

Since that day millions of gallons of oil per day have been flowing into the Gulf waters. The impact and devastation to the ecology of the ocean is immense.

(Transition to the beaches. Pan in to narrator as they speak.)

These beaches once were the destination of people all over the nation taking a vacation to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the ocean. All of that has changed. This is no longer the place for vacationers seeking fun and beauty.

(Show footage of disaster relief workers.)
The air stinks of oil, the beaches are full of workers seeking to fight the effects of the disaster,

(Show footage of town, feature areas without much traffic.)
and the town is full of struggling businesses and workers trying to adjust to the loss of visitors.

(Transition back to narrator on beach.)
While the Gulf Shores is no longer the place to visit for fun in the sun, it is ground zero of the biggest disaster in the history of the world. Come to Gulf Shores and be a part of history.

(end.)

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That would work. If they just stop trying to market it as a vacation spot and market it as a place to be so one can be a part of history then people will come.

By the way, I e-mailed a copy of this Blog entry to Guy Brennan, the marketting director of Alabama Tourism. Maybe they'll do something with it, maybe not, but hey... at least I did something.