Grand Bahama is bracing for another bumper spring break season as college students flock to the island to escape the bitter cold of the northern United States for the sun, sand, sea and fun of Freeport.
Representatives from the various factions working to make this spring break even more successful than it was in the past discussed activities that are being planned at a press conference yesterday.
Ministry of Tourism officials said Grand Bahama has a lot more to offer the estimated 10,000-plus students expected to congregate here.
General Manager of Product Development Tourism Betty Bethel said the Ministry of Tourism will host a one day event of activities in the International Bazaar that would expose the students to Bahamian culture.
“We will host a full day of activities like a junkanoo rush-out, coupled with other spring break events,” Ms. Bethel said. “We’re very pleased to meet with all of the operators this morning to ensure that our spring breakers have a wonderful stay.”
Noting that the ministry is very concerned about the safety of the students, Ms. Bethel said they are working hand in hand with the police to ensure their safety.
“We will also be holding briefings in the various hotels and venues where activities will be held to ensure that the students will be safe and that they will understand the rules by which they have to play to have a safe and enjoyable stay on Grand Bahama,” she said.
Ms. Liz Clifford ﾗ programme director for Spring Break Travels, the largest spring break promoters to The Bahamas ﾗ explained what the company does.
“We bring a number of students to the island for a five-day, four-night trip here,” shd said. “They arrive via Discovery and stay at a number of hotels here on the island.”
Hotels that cater to the spring breakers include the Sheraton at Our Lucaya, Port Lucaya Resort, Royal Islander, Victoria Inn as well as Club Viva Fortuna.
Noting that they had their first arrival on Monday, Ms. Clifford said there will be arrivals all through the month of March and the beginning of April.
“The first group was very small,” she said. “It was only 100, but we have arrivals every day except Thursdays and we have departures every day except Mondays.”
Though the first group was small, Ms. Clifford assured that the sizes of future groups will grow as the season progresses and it usually peaks in the middle part of March.
MtvU is the official spring break sponsor for Spring Break Travels this year and will be shooting events in Grand Bahama. The first event will be a Mardi Gras party at the Prop Club in Port Lucaya.
A new addition to the island that will allow for even more fun is Paintball Bahamas.
Paintballing is the fastest growing sport in the United States, Europe and South America and promises to be lots of fun for spring breakers.
In addition to paintball, Tyrone Fraiser, manager of Tranquility Shores at Taino Beach, said they have activities already set for Thursday and Sunday nights.
He added that Tranquility will be offering day-time activities, including wet T-shirt contests, limbo dancing contests, drinking contests, tug-of-war, and beach volleyball, among other activities.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
