Beaches of South Walton Welcomes Southwest Airlines to Northwest Florida

Low-cost carrier provides tourists, business travelers easier access to region

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Millions of potential tourists and business travelers on Wednesday got closer to relaxing escapes when Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced that the carrier will provide service to the new Northwest Florida-Panama City International Airport when the facility opens in May 2010.

Many travelers will gain greater access to Beaches of South Walton and its collection of 15 picturesque beach communities, sugar-white sand and emerald-green water.

Southwest Airlines will open a gateway to the scenic beauty of the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast for travelers from places like Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, New York and Washington, D.C. Meeting planners also will gain a new destination when searching for a memorable coastal outing.

Kelly made the announcement Wednesday during a tour and briefing named with football jargon that denotes a scoring opportunity: “Entering the Red Zone: Drive to the Finish at the Northwest Florida-Panama City International Airport.”

The commitment from Southwest Airlines puts big points on the board for business and tourism across the region, as well as consumers hungry for beach travel.

“The new airport—and more competitive air service—will be a real boost for tourism and business travel across the entire region," said Sonny Mares, executive director of the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council. “The added air service will fulfill a critical need, providing travelers direct access to Northwest Florida.”

The new airport will be located in western Bay County north of County Road 388 and east of State Road 79 on land donated by The St. Joe Company.

"We have been overwhelmed by the amount of energy that Panhandle residents have put on Southwest Airlines to start service to that area," Kelly said.

Arriving so close to the eastern end of Beaches of South Walton, visitors will discover a special place with famously clean and well-maintained beaches that beautifully blends casual with sophisticated and relaxation with activity. Just in time for the 2010 Memorial Day weekend, they’ll find a diverse range of accommodations, from resort experiences to intimate cottages.

Whether families are seeking a weeklong vacation or couples are looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, they can never say there’s nothing to do—unless doing nothing is what they came for. Both groups will appreciate high-quality events, diverse shopping, fine dining and natural activities like hiking, biking and kayaking.
Additionally, the airport’s green focus is in line with the sustainable tourism ideals that Beaches of South Walton rigorously has followed throughout the last decade. Forty percent of the land in Walton County is preserved as state parks and forests, and the destination has the largest concentration of rare coastal dune lakes in the world, with 15 dotting the coastline.
The airport plan incorporates approximately 78,000 acres and, of particular significance, the boundary of the plan includes an entire bay system (West Bay), thereby allowing unprecedented planning to protect an entire watershed. An innovative element is the West Bay Preservation Area, which will preserve approximately 41,000 acres and, when fully implemented, will provide for habitat corridors, open space and stream protection.

For more information about Beaches of South Walton, or to plan a summer vacation, please visit the Web site at www.beachesofsouthwalton.com or contact the Visitor’s Center at 800-822-6877 for a free copy of the visitor’s guide.

About Beaches of South Walton
Beaches of South Walton is a destination located along a 26-mile stretch of Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast and comprised of 15 picturesque beach communities and white sand beaches and emerald green waters for which the region is renowned. Visitors to the destination enjoy a relaxing escape: an upscale, yet casual, place to unwind and rejuvenate. It is the only destination in the nation to have 26 contiguous miles of beach certified as Blue Wave by the Clean Beaches Council. To learn more, visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

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