KEY WEST, Fla. -- Florida Keys officials discontinued a mandatory evacuation Monday and set Thursday as the recommended day visitors start returning to the islands.

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Ivan's Outer Bands Lash Keys

Visitors and residents were ordered out last Thursday after a National Hurricane Center forecast track indicated that Hurricane Ivan might impact the Keys.

Because Ivan's severe winds never came close to the island, the region's basic infrastructure, including electricity and freshwater delivery, remained intact.

However, Keys tourism officials are asking visitors to delay their vacation plans to provide time for residents to return and for visitor-oriented businesses to reopen their doors.

"Most of our tourism industry personnel heeded the excellent counsel of emergency managers and left the Keys," said Steve Robbins, chairman of the Florida Keys & Key West Lodging Association. "We need a few days to get them back and to undo hurricane preparations.

Key West International Airport should be getting some commercial flights by noon Tuesday and full service by Thursday. Greyhound Bus Lines is to resume runs between Miami and the Keys Wednesday, and the first cruise ship should call on Key West Thursday.

State parks, including John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, began to reopen Monday.

Robbins added that the Florida Keys Poker Run, an annual event for motorcycling enthusiasts, was still on for this Friday.