Ich Liebe Florida

The possibility of a financial collapse in Europe apparently won't stop tourists from that part of the world from visiting the Gulf Coast this summer.

“We've been very concerned about the financial crisis over there, but it hasn't seemed to affect bookings,” says Mark Dickson, director of revenue for the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina in Fort Myers Beach, echoing sentiments from Tampa to Naples. “We're going to see close to record numbers this year.”

That's important because European business during the slow summer months has become a crucial part of the tourism economy on the Gulf Coast. While fewer in numbers, European visitors have an outsized impact because they spend more time and money than their domestic counterparts.