Just back from a weeklong visit to the People’s Republic of China Director General of Tourism, Vernice Walkine yesterday told the Bahama Journal that despite China’s keen interest and excitement in The Bahamas, “there is no likelihood in the immediate term of nonstop service” between the two countries.
“First of all, the airlines that we met with do not have the kind of equipment to make that happen immediately and secondly, they are not sure yet that the demand will be there to warrant it at this point,” Ms. Walkine said.
“However should we, over the course of the next few months and few years determine that there is that kind of demand, then everyone would want to follow that demand.”
The proposal was being explored as a direct result of an agreement that was signed between Bahamian and Chinese officials to facilitate more Chinese tourists. Several other Caribbean nations had also signed the pact.
Ms. Walkine proffered a short-term solution to the dilemma, suggesting that The Bahamas become positioned as a viable add-on destination for affluent Chinese nationals, who travel to the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
“We talked about what would be required in order to package ourselves appropriately so that we are accessible and affordable for them to consider us for a three, four or five day vacation added on to their business trip,” she explained.
“And so we spent a lot of time talking about this as the most viable option in the immediate term and everyone we met with was very excited about this option, very encouraged about our ability to make this happen and very determined to work with us because they saw it as a huge opportunity for them to have something exciting and new to add to their repertoire of vacation options for the Chinese market.”
The proposal to designate The Bahamas as a preferred travel destination for Chinese people was one of several that Chinese officials laid on the table last year during Prime Minister Perry Christie’s state visit to that country.
At the time, the President of COSCO Shipping Company, which intends to be the largest shipping company in the world by 2010, proposed expanding the dry dock ship repair facility in Freeport. The plan is to enable that operation to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, as well as create a significant number of jobs for Bahamians.
Financial Services and Investments Minister, Allyson Maynard-Gibson on Monday told the Bahama Journal that while this has yet to materialize, the government is still optimistic that it will soon happen.
“There are presently ongoing negotiations for the acquisition of that facility by a very significant ship repair company,” Minister Maynard-Gibson explained. “So we hope to be able to make some announcement with regards to this sometime in the near future.”
Expanding the dry dock was not the only proposal made. Efforts continue to form a partnership with Chinese company, Jin De Li for a significant souvenir and handicraft industry originated by Bahamians.
According to Minister Maynard Gibson, the intention is to ensure that at least 50 cents of each dollar earned from tourism remains in the country.
“They have been to The Bahamas and have had productive visits in both New Providence and Grand Bahama with my Ministry and others including the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC). They were positive visits and we are now waiting to hear from them with a submission on how to move forward,” the Minister said.
“On the matter of the Logistics Centre. We have spoken representatives from CITIC and they have been here several times since then. And we are also waiting to hear from them on the way forward and we are very optimistic of that particular project. And so over time, we look forward to bringing some of those projects to fruition.”
State-owned conglomerate CITIC group (formerly China International Trust & Investment Corporation) is China’s largest commercial corporation. It oversees the Chinese government’s international investment, as well as domestic ones.
Both the president and premier have further committed to encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in The Bahamas and establish joint ventures with Bahamians. The Minister has revealed that once the Logistics Centre is in place, everything else would follow.
Chinese officials have already taken steps to make good on their promise to construct a $30 million National Sports complex for The Bahamas.
The Prime Minister has revealed that the multiphase project’s first section would include the National Stadium, the Baseball Stadium and the present Thomas A. Robinson stadium, the new softball stadium and the Aquatic Centre.
The detailed drawings are expected to be completed and submitted by the Chinese architectural team by early December 2005 and approved that same month.
Source: The Bahama Journal
