Rena spill: Locals fight perception beaches are no-go area

Bay of Plenty locals are being urged to post pictures of their restored beaches on Facebook as tourism operators battle damaging perceptions that the region's entire shoreline is blackened with oil.

Tourism operators have suffered cancelled bookings over the Rena disaster, and a marketing strategy is being compiled to tell the world Tauranga is still open for business.

Though the surf at Mt Maunganui's famous Main Beach remained off-limits yesterday, locals were sunbathing and playing volleyball.   More Read