The Bahamian tourism product is expected to get a boost from “religious tourists” as a result of a new partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and the Mount Tabour Full Gospel Church.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, who has endorsed the “Heart to Heart Women’s Conference” to be hosted by Mount Tabour next month, said all forms of tourism are needed to boost the market.
In addition to revenues derived from hotel rooms and other conference -related services, organizers expect that Bahamian contracts will total about $100,000 for the conference to be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.
Mr. Wilchcombe said that the tourism numbers in The Bahamas will increase significantly from the stagnant 1.3 million stop over visitors who come to The Bahamas a year.
“We are going to extend our campaign to the North American market with a representative from the Ministry of Tourism attending and speaking with religious leaders at the many conferences,” he said.
He said his Ministry is hoping to offer The Bahamas as an alternative to the Middle East and other areas that are having difficulties at this time.
We do have the strong Christian values and we believe that The Bahamas is a destination that people would want to come to,” he said.
Minister Wilchcombe pointed out that the religious tourism market is extremely large in the United States. He said many of the 1.8 billion Christians in the world attend more than 45,000, conferences every year, spending some $7.5 billion.
Mount Tabour Bishop Neil Ellis called on tourism officials to court the religious market as a new tourism niche.
According to Bishop Ellis, the conference – to be held October 10-13 – promises to open doors and provide opportunities in every area possible.
“We are excited that we have been successful in attracting this conference, which is being held for the first time outside of the United States to our shores,” he said.
Participants, including women from all over the country, will focus on developing themselves and their relationship with God and others.
“It is at occasions such as this that I am reminded of the truth that God is able to supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory,” Bishop Ellis said.
Speakers for the “Heart to Heart” conference include Atlanta-based Bishop Eddie Long and his wife Vanessa, Minister Paula White; renowned Bishop George Bloomer; and Patrice Ellis, the wife of Bishop Neil Ellis.
