The Coalition for Democratic Reform appreciates that tourism will continue to be the major economic pillar for The Bahamas. It is clear that the Minister of Tourism and the Government is optimistic that our economy is in the recovery cycle, and that the tourism industry is regaining its growth patterns.
However if we are to enjoy sustained development, the industry must be constantly expanded, diversified and improved.
The Government is now concentrating on improving Bay Street which we find important, but we call on the Government to take more meaningful steps to improve our overall product. During the fiscal year 2002-2003 Central Bank figures show increases in tourism earnings based on improved room rates, and cruise ship arrivals. What concerns the CDR is that increased room rates and even increased cruise passenger arrivals have a lesser effect on the economy than that of increased stopover visitors.
For many years tourism experts have theorized that cruise passengers are almost guaranteed to return as stop off visitors based on the preview they received while on their cruise vacation. However, over the years cruise lines have reduced their time in Bahamian ports and in many cases, passengers are ferried off to private islands for a day on the beach. So a small percentage of cruise visitors get a taste of what our destinations really have to offer.
What is also of concern is the newly opened Welcome Centre at Prince George Waft. Millions of taxpayers’ dollars has been spent on this project and after many delays it is finally in operation. Our investigation has revealed that this multi-million dollar complex is proving to be ineffective.
The original plan was for the welcome center to be an arrival terminal where every passenger would pass though and at least view a taste of Bahamian culture in the form of music, food, art and craft. However the entrance is not strategically placed to ensure a mandatory walk through by passengers, which means that many visitors are not even aware of its existence. We call on the government to seek an urgent remedy to this oversight.
The CDR is of the view that more needs to be done to distinguish a Bahamian vacation from that of our competitors. The Bay Street improvement project is a good first step but in itself does not increase the chances of visitors returning as stop-over visitors. The CDR believes that if we are to have the benefit of continued growth in our number one industry, we must consolidate a uniquely Bahamian experience, and outline a new and balanced promotional strategy, that will include the promotion of cultural events, Bahamian arts, dinning and entertainment.
We are calling on the Government to add three additional initiatives to the Bay Street clean up project in order to get tourist to venture deeper into our communities.
1. Take immediate steps to clean and improve all traditional and non-traditional historical sites.
2. Using the success of Arawak Cay as a model, develop a program of promotion to encourage such cultural exchange areas to be set up in other areas of New Providence such as Gambier, Fox Hill etc…
3. Develop a unit within the Ministry of Tourism for the promotion of authentic Bahamian dinning and entertainment.
The net effect is to encourage as many willing Bahamians with a desire for quality service to personally interact with the more than four million annual visitors. The CDR believes that this professional individual attention will differentiate our vacation experience from that of our competitors.
By Charles Maynard, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Coalition for Democratic Reform
