President Obama and his family will travel to Florida on Saturday to spend some time at Panama City Beach. The “vacation” comes as tourism in the Gulf is down significantly due to the oil spill. Gulf officials and lawmakers have been pleading with Americans not to cancel their trips to the region, as the Gulf’s economy is dependent on tourism.
On Saturday, according to the White House, Obama will meet with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and local business owners to discuss options for the Gulf recovery. Mabus is working on a long-term “Gulf Coast Restoration Plan,” the White House says.