Business-owners around Panama City Beach are anxiously hoping and waiting for the arrival of thousands of teens and young adults who will eagerly celebrate this year’s spring break.

After the BP oil spill last year, a good spring break will indicate the area has recovered from past the incident. However, a weak spring break will bring another tough year for the region.

Panama City Beach had high hopes with the opening of a newly-built international airport in 2010. Yet, that was before BP oil spill ruined tourism along the strip of sugar-white sandy beaches of Florida Panhandle. The once crystal and clear waters were tarnished with oil-covered debris and tar orbs.

According to President Dan Rowe of Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, March is highly important since it is their first big tourism season since the Deepwater Horizon was fixed.

Today, stores are hiring additional staff to cover extended hour shifts from March until April. Spring break shirts, Mardi gras beads, thong bikinis, and beer cosies crowd the shelves of the Paradise Found store located at Panama City Beach.

To promote the city, Rowe went to Midwest colleges with his staff. They distributed gift cards and promoted flights to the new international airport in Northwest Florida.

They went to Ohio State University, University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin. They are also planning to visit schools in Tennessee and Georgia for late spring break.

Their economy has been sustained by the steady arrival of retired tourists looking to find a break from the cruel northern winter. In December, it has seen an 8 percent raise in tourism development tax collections from the same month a couple of years ago.