Oil drilling could hurt East Coast tourism

The Associated Press reports on the mostly negative reaction from residents, environmentalists, and tourism industry to President Obama's decision to drill for oil along the East Coast.

From the Delaware shore to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Atlantic coast beaches are a destination for many Northeast visitors. The vision of oil platforms, even beyond the horizon, did not sit well with tourism officials.

In South Carolina, tourism is an $18.4 billion business, with Myrtle Beach a big part of it.

"We don't believe placing oil rigs off the coast of South Carolina would be beneficial to the state and the best case scenario for oil royalties would not be close to the tax stream generated by coastal tourism," said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Read the full story: Reaction mixed to idea of East Coast drilling

Photo from AP