- Contributed
Springbreakers have overrun the town of Negril and are out in their thousands.
THE TINY north coast town of Negril has been transformed into a city of booming business and tireless activities since the first arrival of United States Spring-breakers last month.
Their arrival into Negril comes with many predictions from both public and private interests about the number of Springbreakers who will choose Jamaica as their mini-vacation spot.
Last month, the co-owner of Margaritaville Caribbean, Montego Bay, Brian Jardim stated that Jamaica is set to earn roughly US$25 million from an estimated $20,000 springbreakers to be here.
The indications from the hotels, villas, and student travel services in Negril alone are that this may well be on its way to be a reality.
Reports from the Jamaica Tourist Board's Negril office, and two major student travel co-ordinators, Sunsplash Tours, and Student Travel Services (STS), reveal that Springbreakers have overrun the town of Negril and are out in their thousands.
PLAYERS
Both Sunsplash Tours and STS are huge players in bringing Springbreakers to Jamaica. They offer comprehensive packages for students which cater to almost every aspect of their lives. They include inclusive meal, excursion, airfare, party, and hotel packages in their deals, and as a result attract thousands of students.
General manager of the JTB'S Negril office Mr Bolney Williams, said that the agency can not complain based on what they have seen. "It has been great so far. The projections based on the tour operators was 15,000 Springbreakers. We are now in our third week and we estimate that about 12,000 are here now," he explained.
He added that within Negril, movement by the springbreakers was average, and that the local vendors have started to feel the benefits. "They are moving around in the town and buying stuff from the locals. The numbers spending with locals was not what they had expected, but they are still benefiting."
Sunsplash Tours' local representative, Bryant Homrell, gave a similar story to the JTB's. He added, however, that compared to last year, there has been a slight jump in the number of students travelling with his agency.
"We have a 10 to 15 per cent increase in numbers now than last year, so we are going in the right direction," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "We have about 3,500 to 4,000 students with us since February, and we expect about 2,500 more this coming week. "It has been a massive bashment. The responses have been great and favourable."
At STS, Chris Rhiel, the local representative, admitted that they have increased numbers this year as well. "I could not estimate in percentages or figures right now, but it's been much better than last year. Just this week we had 1,200 students, and this weekend we estimate that more than 2000 will be here in Negril."
WILD PACE
Negril is known for the fast and frequent wild pace of its night life. Businesses which cater to this aspect of the springbreakers' vacation have also noted more money being passed through their cash register. One of the leading nightclubs, Margaritaville is reeling in as many students as they can get, with hotel to hotel visits in order to convince party hungry students to go there. This has apparently bore fruit.
Head of Promotions, Colin Scarlett, stated that the number of people attending the clubs on a nightly basis has actually tripled since February.
"Our regular numbers are going up by threes. Since spring break it has been very different," he noted. "On our average Monday night we get like 200 people, but last Monday we had 600 plus. Thursdays usually give us 400 but this Thursday we had roughly 900 people. Put it this way, we have been having a constant 500 plus every weeknight. Things have been going well."
