By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In a vacation season already hurt by a down economy, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has compounded the problems of those who depend on tourist dollars during the summer months.

With beaches from here to Florida oil-covered and closed, many folks from the region who usually take a trip to the shore to soak up some summer sun are having to find new places to go and ways to relax. As such, last week L’Observateur asked visitors to its website whether the oil spill has had any effect on their vacation plans.

Surprisingly, more than one-third of respondents said the disaster has had no effect on their plans. Couple that with almost another third who said they had no vacation plans in the first place, and that makes nearly two-thirds of respondents whose vacation plans have been unaffected by the spill.

Of the third whose vacation plans have been interrupted, nearly half said they have had to postpone their vacation plans, nearly one-third have changed their vacation destination, and the remainder have canceled plans or hotel reservations.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 34 percent of respondents chose “It has had no effect on my plans.”

• 13 percent of respondents chose “I have changed my vacation destination.”

• 8 percent of respondents chose “I have canceled plans and/or hotel reservations.”

• 16 percent of respondents chose “I’m postponing planning a trip for now.”

• 29 percent of respondents chose “What vacation plans?”