As the ISS team gears up for the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in New Orleans, we've had a few questions from attendees and exhibitors regarding the BP oil spill. Are we concerned about how it will affect attendance at the show? Is New Orleans tourism being negatively impacted by the tragic events in the Gulf? Is it true people can no longer eat the seafood in the Big Easy?
The unequivocal answer is no.
This morning the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau issued a press release about the state of tourism in the city. "All of the things that hundreds of thousands of visitors are coming in record numbers to enjoy in America's most authentic city, New Orleans, are unchanged by the heart-wrenching environmental issues in the Gulf and the presence of tar balls in Lake Pontchartrain earlier this month," according to NOCVB. This month alone the city hosted the Essence Festival, the convention of the National Education Assocation, and 13,000 visitors with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
And yes, it is safe to eat the seafood.
Precautionary fishing measures aside, most of the state's fishing falls outside the spill area and remains "open and bountiful." A total of 86 percent of Louisiana waters are open to recreational fishing, and locals are enjoying their seafood favorites now as much as ever, according to the NOCVB release.
That said, we are extremely concerned about the trauma created by the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and wish to support Lousiana and the city of New Orleans. We are worried about the ecological threat created by damage to marine and wildlife habitats. The loss of jobs is devastating to the local economy. Those living along the coast fear health repercussions from exposure.
Tourism is not a solution to the city's problems, but the injection of cash to businesses such as restaurants, hotels and retail shops is still important. Those who wish to do more than spread their consumer dollars can contribute to the clean-up effort in a variety of ways. For ideas on how to help, read this fantastic article published in The Daily Green or watch the following video:
To engage in meaningful discussion with your self-storage peers on the subject, you can participate in the following threads on Self-Storage Talk:
If you're ready to support New Orleans with your tourist dollars, read more about the show at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com. You can get details about the education program, download the pre-show planner, view a list of exhibitors and more. To take advantage of the early-bird discount, which can save you as much as 40 percent, be sure to register by Aug. 6.
We look forward to seeing you in the Crescent City for supreme industry education, support of the local economy, and some fresh, healthy eats.