Latest news with #TourismImpact
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes last year, Florida businesses hope to draw in tourists as rebuilding continues
Hurricane-ravaged communities in Florida hope to draw back tourists as some continue to rebuild Some areas along Florida's Gulf Coast are still rebuilding after being slammed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit the Sunshine State back-to-back during the 2024 hurricane season. But the hot-spot tourist communities are also trying to share a simple, but vital message that they're open for business. Caddy's Waterfront Restaurant in Treasure Island, Florida, has set up a temporary restaurant in a parking lot next door, complete with a food truck, as its physical building undergoes repairs from last year's storms. "We have all the tables. We have a full bar. We have the TVs. We have the sound, the music. It really is a restaurant that we built from the ground up," said Stephen Santasieri, the general manager of Caddy's. Santasieri said it was important to get his employees back up and running and just as important to get tourists to come back. "I think that tourism has not been where it was. We've been getting quite a bit of tourism around the holidays, though, which has been great," he said. Tourism impact on the Gulf coast Tourism is the main economic engine for communities along the Gulf Coast. Last year, more than 15 million visitors had an $11 billion impact on the St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, area. This year, it remains to be seen. While businesses and hotels are back up and running, scars from the storms remain. In Madeira Beach, more than 1,400 structures were damaged. The city has issued about as many building permits as it has residents, around 2,000. "We were consumed by the Gulf," said Madeira Beach city manager Robin Gomez about when Hurricane Helene hit. "The surge pushed up, upwards of 7 feet." Sand and water on the streets after Hurricane Milton, in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida. Maxar Technologies After struggling to rebuild, businesses are thankful for the support they've received and are hopeful for the future. "We have a lot of families that come every year, that are still coming, but we just need more support from everyone right now," said Savannah Huskie, the store manager of The Bronze Lady in Madeira Beach. For some, there's still work to do. "When you live here, you have to expect something like that can happen," said Andreas Bieri, one of the owners of The Mucky Duck Bar and Restaurant, a staple in Captiva Island, Florida, for decades. They started the restaurant 50 years ago before it was leveled by last year's fierce storms, but Bieri says they still feel lucky while continuing to rebuild nine months later. "I can't really complain too much that you know, we are here. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are rebuilding everything … and we hope to be back in business by Christmas." While the past destruction is still fresh in their minds, the coastal communities haven't forgotten about the upcoming hurricane season. "It's always in my mind. But we'll be prepared. We're ready, and it's just something you have to — living in this environment, this is what we call our 'two miles long and a smile wide' in our paradise, but it does come with a little bit of cost … the price we pay for living next to the Gulf," Gomez said. 2025 NOAA Atlantic hurricane season forecast Last month, NOAA announced its forecast for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, predicting a 60% chance of an above-normal season. NOAA expects between 13 and 19 named storms, with six to 10 of them becoming hurricanes. Forecasters said around three to five could become major hurricanes. NOAA predicts an "above-normal" hurricane season for its 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast. CBS News The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season saw 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes, which is defined as a Category 3 or larger storm.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The true feelings of Canadians towards America and Trump
More than 50 percent of Canadians no longer feel safe or welcome traveling to the United States amid heightened tensions between the two nations. The shocking revelation comes on the back of President Donald Trump's repeated attempts to pressure Canada and the nation's leaders into becoming the 51st state of America. He has also imposed significant tariffs on America's northern neighbors, arguing that the United States needs 'nothing' from Canada to justify his trade war. The survey of 1,626 people conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies found 52 percent of participants agreed with the statement: 'It is no longer safe for all Canadians travelling to the United States.' Broken down into age brackets, 59 percent of respondents aged above 55 agreed, and 47 percent aged between 18 and 54. Additionally, 54 percent of total participants agreed with a statement that they don't feel welcome in the United States anymore. A whopping 60 percent in the above 55 age bracket agreed with that sentiment. Meanwhile, just 27 percent said they disagreed with the statement, with 19 percent unsure. CEO and President of the Association for Canadian Studies Jack Jedwab warned the National Post this could have serious ramifications on the US tourism sector and relations between the neighboring nations. 'If Canadians have serious concerns about this, it has ramifications for our ongoing travel and interaction with Americans and with the United States,' he said. 'It's something that needs to be addressed and it's something that Mr. Carney needs to help Mr. Trump understand. 'There are economic ramifications arising from Canadians not feeling secure when travelling to the United States and not feeling welcome in the country that we generally see as the home of our main allies.' But the biggest shock of the poll found that significantly more participants did not know how to respond to a question about Trump's recent comments that the border between Canada and America is no more than an 'artificially drawn line.' Some 53 per cent of respondents voted they either agreed with the statement (23 percent) or were unsure how they felt (30 percent). For respondents between 18 and 24, 39 per cent said 'I don't know.' Jedwarb warned the results indicated young Canadians in particular might be 'more vulnerable' to that messaging from Trump. 'The most surprising part was that younger people were less sure about (the line/boundary being artificial), so they may be sort of more vulnerable to that type of rhetoric,' he said. During the recent election, Canadians came out strongly to vote for Liberal candidate Mark Carney (pictured), banishing 'Canada's Trump' Pierre Poilievre in what was largely seen as a referendum on Trump north of the border. A poll conducted by determined the majority of Canadian voters were going to the ballot boxes with the consideration of who would be best suited to stand up to Trump. Carney assured Canadians he would 'win this trade war with America' and continue to build a relationship with Trump despite 'a crisis that we did not create.' 'As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our water, our resources, our country... never,' he said. Carney said these were not 'idle threats,' adding: 'President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us.' 'That will never, ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed,' he said to applause. He met with Trump in the Oval Office earlier this week, where the President doubled down on his '51st state' plans. The explosive meeting was intended to foster better relations between the two nations as they seek to come to an agreement over the imposition of massive tariffs. Trump said if the two nations joined together it would be a 'wonderful marriage.' He added: 'But it takes two to tango, right?' Carney told the former real estate developer flatly: 'There are some places that are never for sale,' mentioning the White House and Buckingham Palace. Trump refused to give up hope, jovially adding: 'I say ''never say never''.' He went on to hail the meeting a success, later telling reporters: 'We had a very great meeting. No tension, we want to do what's right for our respective peoples.'
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
How Canadians really feel about America - and Trump - revealed in new poll
More than 50 percent of Canadians no longer feel safe or welcome traveling to the United States amid heightened tensions between the two nations. The shocking revelation comes on the back of President Donald Trump 's repeated attempts to pressure Canada and the nation's leaders into becoming the 51st state of America. He has also imposed significant tariffs on America's northern neighbors, arguing that the United States needs 'nothing' from Canada to justify his trade war. The survey of 1,626 people conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies found 52 percent of participants agreed with the statement: 'It is no longer safe for all Canadians travelling to the United States.' Broken down into age brackets, 59 percent of respondents aged above 55 agreed, and 47 percent aged between 18 and 54. Additionally, 54 percent of total participants agreed with a statement that they don't feel welcome in the United States anymore. A whopping 60 percent in the above 55 age bracket agreed with that sentiment. Meanwhile, just 27 percent said they disagreed with the statement, with 19 percent unsure. CEO and President of the Association for Canadian Studies Jack Jedwab warned the National Post this could have serious ramifications on the US tourism sector and relations between the neighboring nations. 'If Canadians have serious concerns about this, it has ramifications for our ongoing travel and interaction with Americans and with the United States,' he said. 'It's something that needs to be addressed and it's something that Mr. Carney needs to help Mr. Trump understand. 'There are economic ramifications arising from Canadians not feeling secure when travelling to the United States and not feeling welcome in the country that we generally see as the home of our main allies.' But the biggest shock of the poll found that significantly more participants did not know how to respond to a question about Trump's recent comments that the border between Canada and America is no more than an 'artificially drawn line.' Some 53 per cent of respondents voted they either agreed with the statement (23 percent) or were unsure how they felt (30 percent). For respondents between 18 and 24, 39 per cent said 'I don't know.' Jedwarb warned the results indicated young Canadians in particular might be 'more vulnerable' to that messaging from Trump. 'The most surprising part was that younger people were less sure about (the line/boundary being artificial), so they may be sort of more vulnerable to that type of rhetoric,' he said. During the recent election, Canadians came out strongly to vote for Liberal candidate Mark Carney, banishing 'Canada's Trump' Pierre Poilievre in what was largely seen as a referendum on Trump north of the border. A poll conducted by determined the majority of Canadian voters were going to the ballot boxes with the consideration of who would be best suited to stand up to Trump. Carney assured Canadians he would 'win this trade war with America' and continue to build a relationship with Trump despite 'a crisis that we did not create. 'As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our water, our resources, our country... never,' he said. Carney said these were not 'idle threats,' adding: 'President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us.' 'That will never, ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed,' he said to applause. He met with Trump in the Oval Office earlier this week, where the President doubled down on his '51st state' plans. The explosive meeting was intended to foster better relations between the two nations as they seek to come to an agreement over the imposition of massive tariffs. Trump said if the two nations joined together it would be a 'wonderful marriage.' He added: 'But it takes two to tango, right?' Carney told the former real estate developer flatly: 'There are some places that are never for sale,' mentioning the White House and Buckingham Palace. Trump refused to give up hope, jovially adding: 'I say ''never say never''.' He went on to hail the meeting a success, later telling reporters: 'We had a very great meeting. No tension, we want to do what's right for our respective peoples.'
