PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tourism officials in one Florida city are still hoping to reel in more families and fewer rowdy college students during Spring Break.
Sick of Panama City Beach's reputation as a party town and horrified by a shooting and videotaped rape in 2015, officials three years ago passed a sweeping set of laws, including a ban on drinking on the beach, meant to discourage Spring Breakers from coming to town.
The News Herald reports results were immediate and swift.
In 2016, tourism officials reported an $84 million drop in spending on hotels based on bed tax revenues.
Many people reported a reduction in tourism-related jobs.
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