|
|
Emerald Coast News
Beaches of South Walton Welcomes Airport (September 28, 2007)WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – September 28, 2007 – Tourism officials in Beaches of South Walton welcomed the recent announcement that the Panama City – Bay County International Airport relocation project recently entered the construction phase. "The new airport—and more competitive air service—will be a real boost for tourism across the entire region," said Kriss Titus, executive director of the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council. The new airport will be located in western Bay County north of County Road 388 and east of State Road 79 on land donated by The St. Joe Company. The airport is scheduled to open in 2010. "Visitors to Beaches of South Walton and the region were limited in their transportation choices in the past, and we believe the relocation of the airport and added air service will fulfill a critical need, providing travelers direct access to Northwest Florida," Titus said. Beaches of South Walton’s tourism numbers experience continual growth from many drive markets in the Southeast to the Gulf Coast each year. However, the new airport will open the destination to travelers from the Northeast and Midwest with direct flights from key gateway cities. The airport also makes the area more attractive to meeting planners looking for a coastal outing with easy access. “The prospect of better air service means that we’ll be able to attract even more meetings and incentive travel business,” said Titus. “We look forward to announcing the latest progress at Florida Encounter, VISIT FLORIDA’s meeting and incentive travel planner tradeshow that’s coming to Northwest Florida for the first time in its 35 years of existence. The airport will substantially impact this audience, so it will be great news to share with these potential visitors to Beaches of South Walton.” Titus went on to say that the Airport Authority has been visionary in their work on this project and that “the tourism industry is excited to join them in celebrating the achievement of this important milestone.” The Airport Authority continues to make progress. The group selected Phoenix Construction to begin site preparation and has begun working on planning. The Airport Authority also obtained a letter of credit for mitigation work, as a part of their commitment to preserve the environment. The airport’s green focus is right in line with the sustainable tourism ideals that Beaches of South Walton has rigorously followed throughout the last 10 years. The plan incorporates approximately 78,000 acres and, of particular significance, the boundary of the plan includes an entire bay system (West Bay), thereby allowing unprecedented planning to protect an entire watershed. Many environmental leaders and organizations participated in creating a plan and policies for the airport that will protect water quality, habitat and the scenic beauty of West Bay. An innovative element of that plan is the West Bay Preservation Area, which will preserve approximately 41,000 acres and, when fully implemented, will provide for habitat corridors, open space and stream protection. The St. Joe Company and the national Audubon Society are studying the feasibility of establishing a state-of-the-art, world-class nature center in this space.
About Beaches of South Walton
 Email to a Friend
 Print Page
 Join Media List
NEXT:
|
| ||||||||||||||||
