Welcoming a Detroit-Nassau flight by Northwest Airlines, Ministry of Tourism officials say more gates in the United States are being opened as The Bahamas is reintoduced as a winter tourist destination.
Northwest Airlines and MLT Vacations launched its Detroit-Nassau daily round-trip flights Wednesday, the 124-seat aircraft arriving at 10:15 a.m.
The flights take three hours. During the programme, 13,000 persons are expected to visit, spending an estimated $13 million.
With the Boxing and New Year’s Day Junkanoo parades to be aired around the United States, and worldwide next week, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said that the cultural event would increase tourist visits to The Bahamas.
“For us to bring this parade closer to the tourist has been very significant, and will be very meaningful for us as we move to the future. One of the wonderful ways of advertising is ‘word of mouth.’ We’re going to have many tourists who will leave this country and tell others about this magnificent celebration of our culture,” said Minister Wilchcombe at the 2002 Junior Junkanoo Parade in Cable Beach.
At a press conference to welcome the 10 persons arriving at the Nassau International Airport Wednesday, Parliamentary Secretary Agatha Marcelle said travel agents and consumers in these areas are excited over the programme.
When she traveled with a cultural group to East Lansing, Michigan in August, Americans got “a small taste of The Bahamian culture” at the Great Lakes Folk Festival, Ms Marcelle said.
“On that occasion I told the citizens of the Motor City that for the real experience, to feel the warmth of our sunshine and to experience the true hospitality of our people, that they had to come down and experience The Bahamas firsthand,” she said.
Although the services will span just six months, ending in April, she expressed the hope that it could be transformed into a year-round service.
In addition to Detroit, Northwest Airlines will also provide connecting flights from Canada, New Jersey, Minneapolis, Chicago, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kansas, New York and Boston.
MLT Vacations Vice-president Larry Chesler said he was honoured by the opportunity to provide services to promote The Bahamas.
“We brought some of our best friends and partners in the travel business, including travel writers and we appreciate the chance to be here,” said Mr. Chesler. “Northwest has initiated this new daily service for the winter season, but we believe that there are great opportunities for the future and look to work with the Tourism Ministry to make the year-round service a reality.”
To promote the flights, five lucky contest winners won free trips to the country and are presently staying at the Radisson Hotel on Paradise Island. Radio talk show winners won a stay at the British Colonial Hilton.
Mr. Chesler said his company intends to promote the entire Bahamas, not only Nassau and Grand Bahama.
Ms. Marcelle and Mr. Chesler presented plaques to each other and to officials of Northwest Airlines.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
