It is time for the Walton County Tourism Department to STEP UP and to Support Open Sand & Beaches.
This is my 6th year of Living in #SantaRosaBeach along the #EmeraldCoast. I came here to enjoy the twilight of my life and to get away from the noise and hustle and bustle of a big city. I have grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle "during season" but I have not grown accustomed to the elitism and the privatization of #30ASand&Beaches. So much so that it hurts my heart that a day at the beach no longer means dipping your toes in the sand and relaxation. A day at the beaches of #WaltonCounty and #30A now consists of:
#30ABeachAmbassadors telling where you can and can't sit.
#30ASecurityGuards telling you are not welcome to walk on or touch certain pieces of sand.
#30APolice arresting you if you do not move.
#30ABeachMaps with more red sand than green.
A five page "summary" of what you can and can't do along the #30ABeahes & #Emerald Coast.
"The Walton County Tourism Department is charged with protecting and strengthening the Walton County brand in the tourism marketplace, in order to bolster the tourism economy and quality of life enjoyed in Walton County."
You know the above words well. They are on your website and it is for the very purpose the #WaltonCountyTourismDepartment was created.
Though this might have worked well in the past as #30ATourism grew. However, now that is not the case.
"As a Destination Marketing Organization [#TheWaltonCountyTourismDeparment], we promote a rich picture of how there’s something special for each visitor, whether it’s time spent among our 26-miles of sugar-white sand beaches and 16 unique beach neighborhoods or the historic treasures and natural landscape above the Choctawhatchee Bay."
The word is out. #WaltonCountyFL, #30A and the #EmeraldCoast are no longer a welcoming place and often the "something special" they are greeted with are limited public assess and even more limited beach space to sit. We are no longer family, friend or guest friendly. What good is access to a beach that is not welcoming and is quite obvious many/most of the elite beach home owners do not want you there including the communities you support while you are here.
"We accomplish this through creative marketing, an engaging social media presence and dedicated coordination with meeting planners, as well as strategic communications across earned and owned media channels and public relations initiatives."
We invite you to join in our efforts to FREE the #30ABeaches of #SouthWalton.
Why am I writing to you is a good question. You like all of those who visit and call Walton County home have a voice.
Are you going to use it to make Walton County better or are we headed towards an abyss we might not be able to fill.
We are at a tipping point. Will you use your voice or will you remain silent. Like all of us we all have free will.
Laws can change and be reversed. Quite titles that should have never been granted can be reversed. HB 631 can reversed and declared unconstitutional as it singled out only one county. One! Leadership can change. A New Direction Can Be Charted. The #WaltonCountyTourismDepartment and the #WaltonCountyGovernemtn & the #WaltonCountyCouncilMembers can change.
Are we all presently constricted by legislation. Yes. However it can and needs to change.
We have already found legislative support and I cannot wait for the #2025FloridaLegislativeSession to begin. We remain adamant in requesting #GovernorRonDeSantis to stay at my home and see for himself the travesty of what #30A and the #EmeraldCoast have become.
Let's all work together for good of all people and not just a few.
We are at a tipping point.
I invite you to join us.
Let's ALL Unite and Work Together
Thanks,
Bcc:Matt@WCFLTourism.com,Patti@WCFLTourism.com,LisaB@WCFLTourism.com,JohnC@WCFLTourism.com,Kelli@WCFLTourism.com,Nicole@WCFLTourism.com,Lisa@WCFLTourism.com,michayla@WCFLTourism.com,Christy@WCFLTourism.com,Stephen@WCFLTourism.com,Paul@WCFLTourism.com,Stacey@WCFLTourism.com,Keenya@WCFLTourism.com,brian@visitsouthwalton.com,Darrelesha@WCFLTourism.com,Tina@WCFLTourism.com,Dana@WCFLTourism.com,Karen@WCFLTourism.com,Summer@WCFLTourism.com,Nancy@WCFLTourism.com,Kory@WCFLTourism.com,Cade@WCFLTourism.com,Ashlyn@WCFLTourism.com,Norma@WCFLTourism.com,Rebekah@WCFLTourism.comHide