On Wednesday in the House of Assembly it was acknowledged that the harassment of visitors on beaches, the docks and streets, and other elements of “tacky tourism” must be discontinued if the Bahamas’ ‘bread and butter’ industry is to rebound.
It could be assumed that the tacky elements of tourism refer to the “chicken in the bag” tourists. But for a more refined tourist to be attracted to the country, there has to be a change in the treatment of visitors.
All of this talk in nothing new, but it is now time to stop with the chatter and start doing.
People may say that the nation has sold itself to please the tourists, but the fact remains that it is The Bahamas’ number one business and until other another industry is able to take its place, then the visitors will have to be treated like royalty.
And although The Bahamas may have signed on with other Caribbean nations to promote tourism in this hemisphere, the actuality remains that these other places are still competitors and when they have better facilities and cater to the needs of the more refined visitors better, then this country is in trouble.
If anyone should doubt how important this industry is to the livelihood of The Bahamian people, all one has to do is remember what happened to the economy after the acts of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001 in the U.S.
The Ministry of Tourism may have many offices around the world and millions may be spent annually to promote the islands of The Bahamas, but with so many other destinations promising more than just ‘Sun, Sand and Sea’ it is high time to move from that tired old line to something more to attract persons.
Besides displaying more of cultural activities, the Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe is now advocating amending the Gaming laws to satisfy customer demands, increase revenue, maintain their competitive edge and enhance The Bahamas’ position as a leading tourist destination.
Minister Wilchcombe said that in order for casinos to remain profitable, Bahamians must be aware that their success is also dependent upon them operating with integrity, as no one will patronize a “crooked” casino.
Furthermore, the Minister is championing a Bill to amend the Lotteries and Gaming Act to provide for Pari-mutuel wagering in The Bahamas.
Once passed, the Act would allow visitors in casinos to place bets on horse, harness and dog races and watch the races while they take place in real time.
As people debate over legalising gambling for Bahamians, the issues for amending the Lotteries and Gaming Act and Gaming laws for tourists may not have the luxury to be debated back and forth.
There are also so many other areas where tourism can be expanded, such as the new push to religious tourism, eco-tourism, etc. Some real ideas and solutions have to be implemented to improve and raise the standard, because too many countries are trying to cultivate their tourism product that no longer can this being the closest nation to the U.S. suffice.
Editorial, The Nassau Guardian
