Spring Break Numbers Up

The company is also projecting a 10 to 20 percent increase in the numbers for 2010.

"This is our heaviest season this year, the peak of the season as we are beginning to wind down," Special Projects Manager in the Ministry of Tourism Stephen Wray told The Bahama Journal at the Wyndham Nassau Resort Monday.

According to Mr. Wray, the ministry has built-up relationships with a number of spring break companies.

While he admitted that the past three years have not been as vibrant, the ministry is doing all it can to reform partnerships with tour operators and other key players.

According to GradCity.com Program Manager Stuart Chason, the company has seen the most students during this period.

"We have about 1,800 students in April but we had a little bit less in the month of March. Most of the kids come from the East Coast of the United States and some others from the southern part of the state," Mr. Chason said. "This is the biggest group we’ve had this year."

According to Mr. Chason, the company has been able to attract more students with the program it has to offer.

"We have many activities, there’s almost too much for them to do down here," Mr. Chason said.

"We’ve got cruises at night time, we have party cruises in the daytime, every day we have a beach party with people like Action, Limbo King and we’ve also had a Junkanoo parade.

"Every night we have a different party happening at Cocktails and Dreams, Charlie’s or Waterloo, so there’s so much for these students to do while they are on vacation," Mr. Chason said.

GradCity.com Program Director Derek Kaye also told the Bahama Journal that the company has received a lot of good reviews from students that have participated in the program this year.

"It’s been absolutely amazing and the students have given rave reviews. They really loved the hotel, the island, the culture the Straw Market and walking on Bay Street. It has just been an absolutely incredible experience for them and we really look forward to our partnership with the Ministry of Tourism," Mr. Kaye said.

"We think that this is going to be great not only for our students, but for the island itself. We’re definitely looking for what is coming in the future."

While the world continues to complain about the contracting global economy, Mr. Kaye said his company has done everything it can to ensure that participating students get value for money.

"We give the students the opportunity to experience a lot of different things with their packages. Instead of them going somewhere and doing things on their own, when they pay for stuff they’re getting excursions and daytime events," he said.

"They’re also getting staff and safety which is very, very important down here. We definitely fee that the students are getting value for money on the island."

While Mr. Kaye noted that The Bahamas is definitely on par price wise with a number of other popular spring break destinations, he noted that the value students get in The Bahamas is worth more.

"It’s probably a little more expensive, but the value that we give the students is absolutely incredible. For $1,500 they can come to The Bahamas for a week and stay at four or five-star hotels.

"We have over 50 staff members and we promote safety and safe travel on the island. We want to build tourism through spring breakers but in a safe manner," Mr. Kaye said.

According to Mr. Rey, security has been the number one priority for tourism officials next to making sure the students have fun.

"Security has been terrific and here at the Wyndham hotel; they’ve been top notch every step of the way," Mr. Chason said.

So far, GradCity.com has facilitated nearly 4,000 students in the Bahamas and the company is also projecting a 10 to 20 percent increase in numbers next year.