Northwest Florida Gulf Coast Counties Form Unified Brand

Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast wants to make sure travelers are no longer in the dark about their part of the Sunshine State. Seeking a spot on the national tourism stage, the region’s beach communities will henceforth be collectively known as “The Beach.”

“By promoting the region as a single entity we can extend our efforts beyond our traditional markets more efficiently,” said Mel Ponder, executive director of Coastal Vision 3000, the newly formed group charged with marketing The Beach. “And with renovations and new construction at our three regional airports, we are poised to welcome more travelers than ever before.”

The organization, representing Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties, has just introduced a new website, www.TheBeachFLA.com, where vacationers can find information on the region’s attractions, find special offers and make bookings in real time.

Stretching from Pensacola to Carrabelle along the Gulf Coast, the region offers 227 miles of remarkably unspoiled white sand beaches. Less developed than other Florida coastlines, the area is protected against development by the biggest military installations in the western hemisphere and 1 million acres of national, state and local parks and preserves.