The Alabama Tourism Department is actively working to offset the perception being generated by the national media that the state’s Gulf Coast beaches are going to be harmed by debris from the BP oil spill. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, unveiled a series of new beach commercials yesterday at the annual Gulf Coast Tourism Summit held at the Erie Meyer Civic Center‎ in Gulf Shores. The new beach commercials opened with the phrase “it is May 2010 and the beaches of Alabama have never been more beautiful.” Similar commercials mentioning the month have June have also been produced. A separate commercial will promote the charter boat industry. The commercials are part of a $1.5 million beach marketing campaign being conducted by the Alabama Tourism Department and the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau using funds donated by BP. The commercials will air on approximately 50 television stations across the country.