news worldnews northamerica usa barackobama 7905692 ----- # Barack Obama and family to holiday on Gulf of Mexico coast near BP oil disaster ## Barack Obama has announced he is to take his family on holiday to the Gulf of Mexico coast, the area blighted by the BP oil disaster. ![President Barack Obama, daughter Sasha Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughter Malia Obama][1] Barack Obama has announced he is to take his family on holiday to the Gulf of Mexico coast Photo: GETTY By Robert Winnett in Washington 11:34PM BST 22 Jul 2010 The American president will holiday in the area during the weekend of August 14, the White House announced last night. The timing of the holiday has led to speculation that the oil giant is close to completing a relief well which should bring a permanent end to the crisis. The leaking well was capped last week following almost three months after an explosion led to tens of thousands of gallons of oil gushing in to the Gulf of Mexico. Mr Obama and his wife, Michelle, have both called for Americans to continue to take their holidays on the Gulf. The area was one of the country's most popular tourist areas, but this year many of the resorts are empty. The President attracted criticism last week after taking a holiday in the state of Maine, in north-eastern America - hundreds of miles from the oil disaster. ## Related Articles * [Washington's safest babysitters: Malia and Sasha Obama][2] 23 Jul 2010 * [BP oil spill: relief ships evacuated due to storm][3] 23 Jul 2010 BP faces a bill for more than $20 billion (£13 billion) for the clean-up operation and compensation for residents and businesses along the Gulf coast. Yesterday, it was announced that one-third of the region's fishing grounds had now reopened. Next week, American politicians are to publish a new energy bill which will force BP to pay compensation for all the costs associated with the disaster. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said: "We will hold BP accountable. We will ensure it pays to clean up its mess, and we will put forth measures to prevent a disaster like this from ever happening again." However, there are also growing fears that a major tropical storm may soon hit the area which may set back the effort to end the disaster. [X][4] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][5] * Share: [Share][4] [ ][6] [ ][7] [Tweet][8] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/7905692/Barack-Obama- and-family-to-holiday-on-Gulf-of-Mexico-coast-near-BP-oil-disaster.html Telegraph ## [Barack Obama][9] * ### [News »][10] * ### [World News »][11] * ### [North America »][12] * ### [USA »][13] * ### [Oil and Gas »][14] In news [![US President Barack Obama's state visit to Britain: day two in pictures][15] ][16] ### [Obamas visit Britain: day two][16] [![US President Barack Obama's state visit to Britain: security and protests][17] ][18] ### [Obama: security and protests][18] [![Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama during a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace,][19] ][20] ### [Obamas visit Britain: day one][20] [![][21] ][22] ### [Obama honours 'special relationship' in toast to the Queen][22] [![Barack Obama UK visit: trip well received in US media: US President Barack Obama high-fives with British Prime Minister David Cameron as they play table tennis ][23] ][24] ### [Obama and Cameron team up for ping pong doubles][24] [X][4] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! 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