Forum: Spring Break doesn't have to be so rowdy

PANAMA  CITY BEACH, FL — The rowdy Spring Break crowds that invade local beaches each March should not be discouraged but better managed, residents and business leaders said Wednesday during a community forum.

Hosted by the Bay County Tourist Development Council, the meeting attended by about 100 people was meant to help plan future TDC marketing plans for Spring Break. Most agreed the college crowds bring in loads of March money but can give the destination a public relations black eye.

Hardly anyone speaking Wednesday wanted to discourage spring breakers, which help make March the third highest money-making month for Bay County tourism.

Some of the business representatives said March college visitors become future tourists, and Spring Break acted like a “tourism fish hatchery.”

“These people are creating memories for the rest of their lives,” said John Starling of Campers Inn.

But concerns were raised and data presented Wednesday that Panama City Beach’s close association with Spring Break was perpetuating an image that might harm future business, especially with the looming opening of the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, set for May 2010.

“I want our public officials to do their jobs and clean this situation up,” Panama City Beach resident Tom Klompts said.

Following the meeting, TDC executive director Dan Rowe said it was doubtful he could recommend another Spring Break/mtvU partnership, given attempts this year by sister station MTV to film drunken revelers. The TDC currently is drawing up its yearly budget and will use Wednesday’s comments to inform future marketing expenditures, he said.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but based on what we know now, I would not recommend it,” he said of the $150,000 spent with mtvU for Spring Break 2009.

Realtor Bill Holt said he has made trips to France and Germany the last few years to test the waters of European perceptions. He has seen television specials there highlighting the rowdiness and police enforcement aspects of Panama City Beach.

“We already have some damage control to do,” he said. Other residents said the binge drinking, infrequent deaths and rapes that occur during Spring Break created negative images of Panama City Beach when they were reported back to the breakers’ home states.

Data presented by TDC consultant Peter Yesawich showed Panama City Beach’s association with Spring Break made it less attractive in some drive markets than other spots, such as Destin or even Gulf Shores, Ala.

A survey of Panama City Beach non-college tourists by consultant Walter Klages illustrated that March visitors were less likely to return than those in April, mostly because of an unfavorable Spring Break impression.

Hotelier Julie Hilton, in the hospitality business for 42 years, urged fellow businesses to better manage the college crowds that converge on Panama City  Beach each spring.

Spring breakers began arriving in large numbers in the 1990s after other Florida destinations such as Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach made them feel unwelcome, she said. She learned how to handle the college crowds and now 30 percent of her yearly income comes from the Spring Break period.

“I encourage us to think of responsible management,” she said. “I think we can exist together.”

Linda Radclift, owner of a McDonald’s franchise, said the area needed to better market Panama City Beach to Northeast or Midwest college crowds, who were better behaved “and have more money.”

“We serve a lot of customers in March,” she said. “I work very hard to provide jobs. We need all the income we can get. Spring Break helps to provide jobs year-round.”

Businessman Charlie Hilton agreed, saying the current economy was too soft to neglect any potential customers. “If you are thinking about getting rid of anything, you are out of your mind,” he said.

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