BP writing another check for Florida tourism

Tallahassee, Florida -- Florida's marketing agency is applauding BP for agreeing to give the state another $7 million for tourism advertising.

BP is writing the check to the Northwest Florida Travel Council to help counties in the western Panhandle with their marketing campaign now that the Deepwater Horizon well has been capped.

It's BP's second payment to Florida for tourism ads.  The company gave the state $25 million in May for that mission.

As soon as BP agreed to pay out the $7 million, Gov. Charlie Crist sent a letter to BP asking for another $43 million.  Visit Florida has determined the state needs $50 million to maintain a national ad campaign for five more months.

Visit Florida spokeswoman Kathy Torian says the cash is vitally important to tell tourists around the world that beaches are fine now.

"It was never perhaps as bad as we feared and that quite honestly we've now moved into a phase where everything is clean and clear and open and what little bit of impact there might still be will be so sporadic that it can be cleaned up easily and will have no effect to our visitors."

This is BP's second payment to Florida for tourism ads.  The company gave the state $25 million in May for that mission.

"We are delighted that BP has stepped up in the way that they have.  It looks like they are acknowledging that another round of advertising, despite the well having been capped, is still very much needed to make sure that tourists all over the world realize the situation that Florida is in now," said Torian.

So far, BP has given Florida more than $90 million for tourism and emergency response efforts.