British energy giant BP announced Monday an award of 70 million U.S. dollars to four U.S. Gulf Coast states to promote tourism in the aftermath of the massive oil spill.

BP is providing 25 million to Florida, and 15 million each to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, Tony Hayward, BP group chief executive, said after meeting with Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

"The Gulf Coast is our home, too. We are doing everything we can to plug the leak, contain the spill offshore and protect the shoreline. With the deployment of the riser insertion tool yesterday, we made important progress in containing the spill, and that will further strengthen our ability to keep oil off the shore," said Hayward.

These grants are in addition to the 25 million-dollar grants BP announced May 5 to help each of the four states accelerate the implementation of Area Contingency Plans.

The "Deepwater Horizon" rig, leased by BP, exploded and sank off the Louisiana coast late last month. The untapped undersea wellhead continues gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the shoreline of four coastal states.