• The New York Times, Friday, May 23, 2008 10:45 AM

The pleasant entreaties to hit the beach or resort town this summer are being replaced with more urgent calls to action as the tourism industry faced the twin evils of high gas prices and a sagging economy.

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" has been replaced by "Do Vegas right now." And Panama City, Fla.'s "The beach lover's beach" has been thrown aside for "a summer white sale," a promotion that comes with gas credits and other discounts. Even American Express is bringing back a promotion, Going Once, that joins with merchants to sell travel packages at discounted prices.

"There is a palpable nervousness on the part of everybody in the industry," said one tourism ad exec, "and for good reason. We've seen some of these conditions individually, but never all of them at once."

Read the whole story at The New York Times »