It may seem insensitive to think about vacation plans in the wake of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina. But looked at another way, tourists are the economic lifeblood of many of the Gulf Coast communities that have been so cruelly inundated by water and whipped by winds.
Tourism is the top industry, or one of the top industries, in New Orleans, depending on how you calculate.
Some Gulf Coast communities soon will begin to struggle to their feet. Tourism will eventually be a tool that will help them stand. Until that day comes, here are answers to some questions we ve been hearing.
Q: I was planning to visit New Orleans this fall. How soon will the city be ready for tourists?
A: Authorities have estimated that it will take a month or more just to empty the city of standing water. Neither private business owners nor government officials have had the opportunity to conduct damage assessment.
Any guess about how long it will take to get back to normal is a wild guess, said Louisiana State University professor Jim Richardson, an economist whose specialties include tourism. I d say that to get everything back into shape, to re-create the New Orleans we knew and enjoyed, you re talking a year, maybe more.
Q: I ve heard that the recovery will be quickest downtown and in the French Quarter. True?
A: Most likely, yes. The historic French Quarter has one of the highest elevations in the city, so it suffered less water damage. Workers who visited the area Tuesday night reported that legendary Bourbon Street was emptied of water. A collapsed wall that exposed part of the interior of the famed Antoine s Restaurant represented a unique example of visible damage to a Quarter landmark. But assessments for less obvious damage have not yet been made.
Many large, well-built hotels weathered the storm fairly well. For example, the 14 Marriott hotels in New Orleans seem to have no structural damage, said company spokesman John Wolf.The company has engineers and equipment standing by in Baton Rouge, La., ready to return to New Orleans as soon as officials allow.
Q: Miami seemed to bounce back quickly from Hurricane Andrew. Maybe New Orleans will do the same?
A: It took us years and years and years to fully recover, said Bill Talbert, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Moreover, unlike New Orleans, Miami s downtown and major tourist attractions were largely spared. People s homes were destroyed, but their jobs were intact, said Talbert.
Q: How about the Mississippi Gulf Coast s biggest tourist draw, floating casinos? Are casinos in New Orleans still standing?
A: Every one of Mississippi s 13 floating casinos in Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis was seriously damaged or destroyed. Several were torn from their moorings and swept hundreds of yards inland. In and around New Orleans, Harrah s, Boomtown and Boyd Gaming s Treasure Chest all reported minor to moderate damage.
Q: What about Alabama?
A: The state s primary tourist destinations along the Gulf Coast are recovering quickly. Updates will be available at 800-ALABAMA, touralabama.org.
Q: I have an airline ticket to New Orleans. Can I get my money back?
A: You might be offered a voucher for future travel, but when flights are canceled, you re entitled to a refund, even on a nonrefundable ticket, said Bill Mosely, a spokesman with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Q: I have a ticket to New Orleans for November, but I doubt I ll want to go, even if the city is accepting visitors. Can I get a refund or change the ticket?
A: If the flight you booked is operating, the airline is not obligated to give you a refund on a nonrefundable ticket, nor is it obligated to waive the usual $100 round-trip change fee, said Mosely.
But the airlines are being flexible about nonrefundable tickets, to varying degrees. From there, the policies diverge. Some, for example, are including some airports besides New Orleans or offering refunds.Check your airline s website – some allow you to make changes online – or call for details.
Q: I put a big deposit on a hotel room in New Orleans. Can I get it back?
A: Of course, you should receive a refund if your hotel isn t accepting guests. The real test is to come, as hotels reopen in locations that travelers may not consider tourist-ready.
