Gulf State Tourism Industries Ask For $500 Million from BP Escrow Fund

The tourism industries in states impacted by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will need $500 million more from BP for a marketing campaign to counter bad perceptions created by the spill, USA Today reports.

Members of the Louisiana and Florida tourism sector and the U.S. Travel Association told congressional staff Tuesday that the money will be needed to help the hospitality industry in the Gulf states, which employs 1 million workers. It would pay for a campaign that could take 18 months. The money would come from the $20 billion independent oil-spill escrow account that BP has promised to fund.

So far, Florida --which employs about 757,000 tourism employees and generates $60 billion for the state annually --has been given $25 million from BP for its tourism campaign, part of $70 million promised to all Gulf states impacted by the spill. The company has promised more.