Tourism officials, who are growing increasingly concerned about the possible blow to the country’s number one industry that could come in the event of a U.S.-led war against Iraq, are beefing up marketing efforts to minimize the fallout.
But Minister Wilchcombe insisted yesterday that so far this year, “tourism has been pretty good.”
Officials report air arrivals for the year were up by 3 percent in New Providence – Paradise Island and up 24 percent in Grand Bahama at the end of February over 2002 levels.
“The numbers are very good,” Minister Wilchcombe said. “Our hotel occupancy rates are better than they were last year at this particular point and the rates are going up, so all the indicators are good.”
He added that the industry is a fickle one and must be continually monitored despite the encouraging levels of tourism business so far for 2003.
Minister Wilchcome said representatives from Fallon Worldwide, the ministry’s new advertising agency, will be in Nassau as early as this week to present the new advertising ideas and strategies for the coming year.
He was speaking at a press conference held at the Sea Venture House to announce the inaugural voyage of the newest addition to Bahamas Fast Ferries’ fleet, the 500 passenger Sea Wind.
The luxury craft, which features an onboard theatre and reclining seats, will add to the tourism product because The Bahamas cannot compete as a tourist destination if reliable transportation is not available, Minister Wilchcombe said.
“We have a lot to offer,” he said. “We just have to find the right way to package it all, export it more and I believe it’s going to lure more people to this country.”
The vessel will make its inaugural voyage to Bimini on April 18th in conjunction with that island’s annual regatta, Khaalis Rolle, chief marketing officer at Bahamas Fast Ferries said.
Mr. Rolle added that the provision of transportation to the regatta is a part of the company’s broader commitment to bridging the gap between the Family Islands.
“Our vision is to provide reliable and dependable marine transportation service and to see the marine transportation business evolve into the primary and preferred method of travel for Bahamians,” he said. “My belief is that this will assist in speeding the development and growth of the Family Islands.”
He said, though, that vessels such as the Sea Wind require proper access to docks and a minimum draft before being able to provide regular service to a given island.
Bahamas Fast Ferries is considering which islands its craft would be able to travel to and determining the cost of providing access to those islands, he said.
By Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
