NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A popular excursion company said it has seen “strong” response from the local market after having reopened and resumed its operations last month.
Blue Lagoon Island, the top-rated private island destination, is currently only open on Saturdays and will seek to open more days as business levels increase, according to Jessica Robertson, Blue Lagoon’s public relations manager.
“We reopened on November 13. The following week, the prime minister lifted the weekend lockdown and so we shifted to Saturdays. We are currently open just one day a week. As business grows, we will seek to add more days. There is interest in that. Having been closed down since March, it’s been a long time coming to this point and we are extremely excited to be back up and running and get back to business,” said Robertson.
She noted that with the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacting travel and tourism, the company was forced to lean more heavily on the local market, where it has always had a strong following.
“We have always had a strong following in the local market. The response has been very good considering this is winter in The Bahamas. People have been in their homes for some time and they want to go out on tours and enjoy themselves. People want to do it in a safe environment and that’s what we have to offer — a safe environment for them and our team. We have offered special rates to our local customers because we know it’s been difficult for everyone and we want to make sure as many people as possible can afford to get out,” said Robertson.
She added: “Since March, we have been working on our protocols and ensuring that we were ready to open up in this new environment.”
The company employs some 325 persons, though Robertson noted the number of employees varies as it is driven by business levels.
“Like every business, we have had to scale down the operation without losing the fantastic experience everyone knows and loves,” she said.
Robertson noted that while any significant return of foreign patrons will depend on the United States and its handling of the pandemic, Blue Lagoon Island has seen some foreign visitors.
“We’re all looking forward to seeing more people travel. A lot is dependent on how the US handles the pandemic. We have been getting some tourists. There are tourists who have stayed at a number of properties that have been open such as Breezes, and a few Airbnbs as well,” she said.
