The Bahamas needs to pay more attention to the upkeep of our tourism product and “we must get rid of tacky tourism,” said the Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe, Monday evening.
Minister Wilchcombe, giving a progress report on the state of Bahamas’ number one industry live via television and radio, said The Bahamas has a well-developed tourism product, but have not always been careful of the way this essential product is treated.
“We know this because our industry partners tell us this. We need to pay more attention to the up-keep of our tourism product. We must get rid of tacky tourism,” he said, adding that in an effort to do this, his Ministry would be placing a stronger emphasis on product improvement with the strengthening of the Product Development Division within the Ministry of Tourism.
The new product Development Division will view the visitor’s vacation in the Islands of the Bahamas as the delivery of multiple experiences from reception to departure, with each individual experience having the potential to ensure the satisfaction and loyalty of that visitor.
“Where there is dissatisfaction or resistance to the tourism product experience, the objective of our newly refined and dynamic product department will be to reinforce positive visitor experience and eliminate all negative interactions between Bahamians and visitors,” he said.
The new product would be structured to allow for competent tourism teams to focus on several areas of concern as well as the creation of a calendar of events that will contribute to positive experiences.
This “reconfiguration of our tourism product,” according to the tourism minister, started two weeks ago with the opening of Festival Place on Prince George Dock that compares favorably with some of the best cruise welcome centers in the region. He said that Festival Place and the welcome center also provide for an orderly reception for the more than two million visitors who come by cruise ships and it is only reasonable to expect that there should be more control and order to the way we welcome our visitors.
Even though the reception at festival place is orderly, Minister Wilchcombe pointed out that the reception and welcome for our visitors at Nassau International Airport and Prince George Dock still leaves much to be desired.
“There is much too much freelance activity going on which leaves our visitors with the impression that they are being hustled,” he said, adding that the reconfiguration of Bay Street and the downtown and port area will continue with the implementation of a redevelopment program that would involve an ongoing cleanup and beautification program.
Minister Wilchcombe said that surveys conducted by the Ministry of Tourism show that the visitor likes our people and our product, which are two solid assets in a world of change, but despite this, Bahamians should avoid being smug or complacent and therefore cautioned all those involved.
“The taxi drivers, the retailers, the straw vendors, the hair braiders, the surrey drivers, the jitney drivers and anyone else coming into contact with all our visitors to appreciate that our efforts must be in harmony. Only together will we enjoy the opportunities and the benefits that the tourism industry can bring,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Wilchcombe said that as we look ahead, we must all strive to be the best that we can be, as the Bahamas’ tourism product is its people, the experience they deliver and the memories they create.
“We are all representatives of The Bahamas, we are all a public relations force of one that creates lasting impressions on our guests, impressions that will determine if they will return, recommend us to friends and family, and contribute to the overall reputation of our great nation,” said Minister Wilchcombe.
Minister Wilchcombe said the new product department’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
*The upgrading of all reception and departure facilities and ports.
*The upgrading and maintenance of all points of interest and public facilities used by visitors and These include Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, The Queens Staircase, Potters Cay, the Western Esplanade and the Arawak Cay Fish Fry.
*The oversight of the activities on all beaches, specifically vendors, Jet Ski operators and braiders.
*The expansion of the People To People program.
*The development of a Language Center to facilitate information for non-English speaking visitors
*The development of a comprehensive signage program, both directional and informational.
*The encouragement of more Bahamian music and entertainment being heard and exposed in more public places throughout The Bahamas.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
