Hotels on Grand Bahama have seen a 10.7 percent drop in occupancy compared to March of last year since the start of the war in Iraq, according to Executive Vice President of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board Terrance Roberts.
“People appeared to have been concerned about traveling during the war,” Mr. Roberts told the Journal. “Cancellations made up a small percentage of this falloff during the initial stages of the war, but as the war progressed, we believe that persons simply became concerned about travel during this time period.
“Now that the war is nearing its end we believe that persons will review this position and we believe that a turnaround will happen fairly quickly.”
Spring Break projections for Grand Bahama faired well, according to Mr. Roberts, though others in the tourist industry expressed disappointment in the amount of visitors to the island during the Spring Break period.
A long-time taxi driver and a straw vendor on the island both lamented over the visitor arrivals. “Not as many people came to the island this time,” a straw vendor of ten years told the Bahama Journal. “We were expecting more people than this. It’s rough.” The taxi driver added, “Drivers are feeling it. The people just aren’t coming like we thought they would.”
Before the beginning of the war in Iraq, the Ministry of Tourism on Grand Bahama adopted several contingency plans in order to cushion any possible adverse affects on travel to the island.
Director of Tourism for Grand Bahama David Johnson told the Journal that these plans include the increased emphasis on marketing to South Florida as well as to the East Coast of the United States.
“We have been promoting the island as a destination that is safe,” Mr. Johnson said. “We are very close to the United States, and we believe that tourists will continue to take advantage of this and all Grand Bahama has to offer.”
Mr. Roberts said officials will continue to monitor tourism projections heading into the third and fourth quarter of the year for Grand Bahama.
He said that such monitoring occurs on a consistent basis and has resulted in the type of performance the island has seen so far in tourist arrivals this year.
“Things could have been a lot worse for us in terms of occupancy,” he said. “The efficient planning on the part of tourism leaders has resulted in minimal loss.”
With security being both a key concern even before September 11, 2001, police and tourism officials on Grand Bahama adopted increased security measures to protect both tourists and residents.
According to Mr. Roberts, hotels on Grand Bahama met security challenges during the Spring Break period successfully.
“I believe that hoteliers and industry partners on Grand Bahama had anticipated very well and planned efficiently which resulted in a good experience for the spring breakers here on the island,” he said.
Mr. Roberts confirmed that talks are now ongoing regarding tourism initiatives planned for the summer months on Grand Bahama.
By Sharon Williams, The Bahama Journal
