Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe has a theory about how The Bahamas could maintain a position at the apex of warm weather destinations in the world and it involves the concept of diversification.
He was referring to the $1.2 billion Cable Beach transformation that some are worried could pose devastating rivalry for Kerzner Internationalﾴs Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.
The Baha Mar developers have created an ambitious proposal for the transformation of that strip into a Las Vegas casino themed resort replete with all of the trappings.
Touting diversification, Mr. Wilchcombe believes that the property should be different from the mystical themed Atlantis resort.
ﾓI think Cable Beach will be an outstanding addition to the inventory as it is nowﾅbut if Cable Beach diversifies the product, meaning that it canﾴt be an Atlantis it must be a new product,ﾒ he said, ﾓit will then add to what we are offering in The Bahamas and once you are able to offer more then The Bahamas becomes that more attractive.ﾒ
Baha Mar developers, a consortium of European and United States investors, made a big announcement a few weeks ago that they had completed a purchase agreement with Phil Ruffin for his interests along Cable Beach, including the Wyndham Nassau Resort and the Nassau Beach Hotel.
They are eyeing the government-owned Radisson Cable Beach hotel and various government owned properties as part of an extensive redevelopment that would improve the aesthetic appeal and tourism value.
But Kerzner executives have said that should the two mega resorts go after the same clientele it could turn into a ﾓbloodbath.ﾒ
A market analysis that was commissioned said that a mid-priced resort should go up on Cable Beach to give Nassau visitors more options.
But a Baha Mar principal has said that The Bahamas could grow to accommodate two mega resorts.
As far as Minister Wilchcombe is concerned, the tourism product should be diversified.
ﾓThere is only one Atlantis and this is a brand name that has done tremendous wonders for The Bahamas and it is highly recognizable so the brand is out there. What you want to do is create another type brand where we are able to offer something different on the Cable Beach strip, but uniquely different to that of Atlantis,ﾒ he explained.
The Bahamas tourism product is on a course of recovery after being slammed by two devastating hurricanes and grappling with a traditionally slow tourism period, according to the Central Bank.
The World Tourism Organization also reported recently that world tourism is on a spectacular rebound from the scars of the war in Iraq, the SARS epidemic and a weak global economy.
Officials here have the same outlook for the Bahamasﾴ economic engine, which is still trying to rebound from the lashes of recent hurricanes.
The October 2004 issue of the World Tourism Barometer, which monitors the short-term evolution of tourism, said the sector is firmly back on the upward track.
It has identified a 12 percent surge in international arrivals between January and August, with an estimated 52 million tourist arrivals compared to the 58 million who arrived during the eight-month period in 2003.
For the Caribbean region exclusively, according to analysts who have compiled the figures, arrivals grew by 8 percent over this period compared to the same time frame last year.
Major destinations like The Bahamas, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico reported increased between seven and 10 percent.
Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal
