A Hurricane Isaac, the 9th storm of the 2012 Hurricane Season makes its way over Louisiana, New Orleans tourism has come to a screeching halt. Many attractions, restaurants, and even some airports are closed as the Category 1 hurricane strikes the city just seven years after Hurricane Katrina hit.
As Hurricane Isaac has made landfall in Louisiana, flying in and out of the city is just about impossible.New Orleans International Airport and New Orleans Lakefront Airport are closed on Wednesday and dozens of Thursday flights have already been cancelled. Those who had travel plans to or from New Orleans are advised to call the airports and airlines for information regarding rebooking flights.
Hotels in New Orleans remain open as tourists have been in the city before the storm started, but some have stopped accepting new reservations during the storm. One of these hotels includes New Orleans' largest hotel, the 1,600-room Hilton New Orleans Riverside. A mandatory evacuation is not in effect for the city, but it is recommended that tourists and residents stay indoors.
Several popular tourist attractions are closed on Wednesday. They include Harrah's Casino, The Historic New Orleans Collection, National World War II Musuem, Audubon Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium, NOMA, Steamboat Natchez and Grayline Tours. Most attractions are expected to be open on Thursday, but this depends on weather conditions and power outages.
Many fine dining restaurants are closed in the city during the storm, but the Ernst Cafe in the Warehouse District and Walk Ons on Poydras St. plan to stay open and welcome guests. Several bars in the French Quarter are also open to those who want to ride out the storm while enjoying a few drinks.
Hurricane Isaac is currently a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. The storm brings heavy rains and the potential for flooding, but it is expected to weaken as it makes its way over land.
Hurricane Katrina, which hit in August of 2005, caused severe damage to the popular tourist destination, however a recent study by the University of New Orleans shows that the leisure and hospitality industry has recovered almost completely since Katrina. The number of restaurants in the city has grown by over 500 since Katrina.
For more updates on New Orleans tourism during Hurricane Isaac, Click Here.
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