Pasco County Votes to Fund Nudist Travel Development Grant
The commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a grant that will market Pasco as a destination for European naturists.
There's a snowbird season in Florida, and soon there will be a "Eurobird" season in Pasco County.
The nonprofit Pasco Area Naturist Development Association (PANDAbare) began formulating the plan to market Pasco County to European travelers earlier this year. The Eurobird project includes a variety of marketing efforts to bring the naturist resorts of Pasco County to the attention of vacationing Europeans.
That plan got a boost today with the county commission's 4-1 vote to approve a $3,818 tourism development grant to PANDAbare to promote the area's naturist communities.
The grant marks the first time Pasco commissioners will use public money to promote the county as a destination for naturists, according to a Tampa Tribune report.
Commissioner Jack Mariano voted against the measure. But most of the board felt the effort was worthwhile to "try and draw people from other countries," Commissioner Pat Mulieri said in an email.
There are more naturists living in Pasco than anywhere else in the country, and yet very few of the 19 million naturists in Europe know Pasco County is a naturist destination, PANDAbare president Paul Brenot said.
"We have multiple resorts all right next to each other, but in the summer, we don't have the tourists," Brenot said.
European naturists who often vacation for several weeks at a time during the slow months of July and August can make the resorts of Pasco their base camp, with the attractions of Central Florida at their doorstep, Brenot said.
Disney World, the beaches, the Space Coast— "Nowhere else in the world is this available" to naturists, Brenot said.
"They say if you build it, they will come. Well, it's built, they just don't know about it yet," Brenot said.
The grant money from the county will help to change that. And if the marketing efforts are successful, Brenot sees potential benefits not only to the naturist resorts, but also for the county as a whole.
"It has the potential to make money for Pasco," Brenot said.
From revenues for the county, to revenues for small businesses, to job creation, "it's just one of those perfect marriages," Brenot said.
The organization also is working to gain 501c3 status, Brenot said. In addition to promoting Pasco as a destination for naturists, part of its outreach includes education about the naturist lifestyle.
Once you begin to understand to understand naturism, you realize what a wonderful community of accepting people it is, Brenot said.
rcarol
5:01 am on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Fits in perfectly with the number of pedophiles living in Pasco.
Dick Witt
4:04 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Please check to see how many of those pedophiles are naturists. Answer: none.
Larry Bush
9:39 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Experts have controverted the notion that nudists are pedophiles and/or perverts. Child psychologists contend that nudist children become sexual at an older age because they do not have the curiosity about the opposite sex that their textiled peers have. In addition, the Osceola County News once reported that children are safer from sexual attack at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort than at the nearby Disneyworld. At Paradise Lakes, all residents are subject to background checks ensuring that residents are not convicted sex offenders. There is also a strong "neighborhood watch" ensuring the safety of all people at PL. Rcarol should check her sources before making blanket statements like the one above.
lonnie
12:06 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
If all these Resorts want to bring people in then have them pay for there own advertisement..every other business has to pay there way. There is an foundation (Heritage Foundation) here in Pasco county that for years has been doing every thing in its power to come up with money to better the county, they are not getting county help. It's time we open our eyes and lets make this a better place to live.
Dick Witt
4:02 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The funding for the grant comes from bed tax from tourism. The naturist resorts have been paying into that fund for years. So, they are not using somebody else's money. This is only a small part of the money they have been paying in bed taxes for many years. European tourists who are drawn to Pasco County because they are naturists will certainly spend money throughout the county at many different businesses. That is what the bed tax is for - to enhance the tourism industry!
Marcia Stone
4:13 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Most people do not realize nudism/naturism already brings in a great deal of money to Pasco County and has for over 70 years. With the addition of European nudists/naturists, this plan can only increase these numbers to the benefit of everyone in Pasco County. There are many millions of European nudists/naturists as it is readily accepted there, unlike prudish/puritanical America where people judge without knowing. The nudists/naturists practice their way of living without interfering with their non-nudist/naturist neighbors. I have been a nudist/naturist for over 26 years. The amount of crime is extremely low. There is a background check required before just anyone can become a member, thus the statement above regarding pedophiles proves groundless. Nudists/naturists are the most protective of single females and children. Children raised in the nudist/naturist way become healthy adults. Nude IS NOT lewd! Just ask Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri who has supported nudists/naturists for many years. Maybe before you judge what goes on behind the gates, you should go and ask for a tour. IF you are deemed worthy, you might be asked to stay for the day to truly see for yourself just what nudity/naturism is all about! Try it, you might like it! It harms no one and is even healthy for you!
Georgie
1:59 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
As an employee of one of the BEST clothing optional resorts in Tampa, I can only tell you what an amazing group of people I have come to know and work with. They are open minded, kind, generous, intelligent, and have the best sense of humor! I have met people from all over the world and all walks of life. Our guests, members, and home owners not only respect themselves but each other. Which is more than I can say for people Ive met on the "other" side of the walls! Do not judge or criticize something you are not informed about. I lived in Germany for 10 years and Europeans do not treat nudism like many Americans. Its more open, talked about, and accepted, from childhood to adulthood. I support the Europbird project, as it will only create more business and tourism for the county. We have a beautiful resort, and only want to share it with others!
Barbara Cowne
9:18 am on Saturday, December 24, 2011
As a home health nurse who has provided care to several nudists in one of the local resorts, I have a different perspective. One of the nudists had an obvious sexual addiction and stayed up all night viewing porn, according to his own admission. Another quite proudly talked of group showers with teenaged girls, with a gleam in his eye, I might add. I see this as abnormal behavior, just from my own observations. What about modesty, which used to be looked at as a virtue? I don't see that as prudish, but as healthy respect for my body and the bodies of others.
Larry Bush
5:35 pm on Saturday, December 24, 2011
Nudists are a cross-section of society. While there are those who may engage in abnormal behavior, there are also non-nudists who engage in abnormal behavior as well. As a member of the medical community, I believe you have a responsibility to report anyone who is engaged in illegal behavior. If someone is taking "group showers" with minors and engaging in any kind of sexual activity, that would be reportable. "Modesty" has many definitions. One of them is lack of audacity in that one does not brag about how modest one is. Respecting one's body and that of others is always healthy. That is what nudism encourages...rather than body shame.