The Seminole Casino in Immokalee is ready to show off its new look today. The Seminole tribe added more than 33-thousand square feet of space to the original structure. It could mean more jobs for the region and more money for the state. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Beachgoers on parts of Sanibel and Captiva Islands will soon see signs warning about sharks. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Tourism officials in Lee and Collier Counties are bracing for the height of the season. So far numbers show mixed results as to how many visitors are coming to the region and how much money they’re spending. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Florida’s tourism officials will soon decide whether the state’s number one revenue generator, beach-based tourism, can coexist with offshore oil drilling. As Trimmel Gomes reports, some think the two will have to go hand in hand.

Even in a down economy, people are still taking vacations in
Florida. Gina Jordan reports.

Tourism in South West Florida was up last quarter compared with the same period last year. The weak dollar has encouraged more overseas tourists than ever to come to the region. But despite this rise, the hotel industry is losing out. WGCU’s Matthew Kay tells us why…

Season’s been good so far at the Southwest Florida Museum of History in downtown Fort Myers. But while the number of overall visitors is up, just who’s doing the visiting is changing. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

This week’s forecast high in Cleveland, Ohio is 61 degrees. Lows there will be near freezing. Highs in Ft. Myers will be in the 80’s…and so the tourism season begins. Members of the Southwest Florida Attractions Association meet Wednesday morning to discuss the upcoming season in a changing economy. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Tourism boosters in Florida are making lemonade from lemons – the falling dollar, they say, makes the Sunshine State an even more desirable destination for foreign visitors. WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

Rookery Bay and the Society for Ethical Ecotourism in Southwest Florida are presenting a free program aimed at making ecotourism even greener.

Coordinator John Kiseda says eco-tour operators, fishing guides and ferry boat captains do a good job – but the program offers tips for doing it even better.

“as they are winding their way through the backwaters they can share information about the birds and ecosystems that they’re running through – plus some techniques they might use as far as slowing down their boats whenever a manatee or porpoise comes along so you can not only get a look at them but also explain to folks that you slowing down because there is an animal in the area and you want to go cautiously”

The program is Tuesday evening from 6 to 8:30 at Rutenberg Park in Ft. Myers. It will be presented by Alberto Chavez who has extensive experience leading tours in the Galapagos Islands. It will be repeated Thursday June 21st at Rookery Bay in Naples. Information is on line at www.seeswfl.org.