Visitor satisfaction surveys released by the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday show that tourists visiting Nassau and Paradise Island in the first half of 2004 were less impressed with the tourism product than those who visited the destination in the last half of 2003.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe expressed disappointment over the results as officials continue to aim for visitor satisfaction levels that exceed 90 percent.
ﾓThis failure to achieve previous 2003 levels emphasizes the need for all residents to implement the Ministry of Tourismﾴs ongoing campaign, ﾑDo More in 2004ﾴ,ﾒ he said. ﾓThe visitors have spoken and now itﾴs time for all of us to act.ﾒ
The surveys show that since June 2003, more than 60 percent of visitors to the destination rated the attitude of locals as much better or better than expected in each of the remaining months of 2003 except for the month of September where ratings fell to 59 percent.
Tourism officials reported that for the first five months of 2004, satisfaction ratings hovered just under 60 percent.
From June through October 2003, more than 70 percent of visitors to Nassau and Paradise Island said they were ﾓvery likelyﾒ to recommend The Bahamas, according to the results of the survey, which is taken from immigration departure cards.
ﾓFrom November 2003 onwards, that figure fell,ﾒ the Ministry of Tourism said in a release on the results.
ﾓFortunately, May 2004 saw a return to the earlier 2003 highs, with 73 percent of visitors completing the immigration departure cards stating they were ﾓvery likelyﾒ to recommendThe Bahamas to others.ﾒ
Director General of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace said, ﾓA return to over 70 is promising. Any change in the right direction is encouraging because it puts us on track towards achieving our ultimate goal where on departing all or at the very least 95 percent of our visitors are very likely to recommend The Bahamas.ﾒ
In the hotel rooms, category, less than 50 percent of visitors who participated in the survey said their hotel rooms were better than expected.
ﾓOur hotel room was in disrepair and the hotel overbooked,ﾒ one visitor said.
Another said, ﾓSome of the ladies at our resort were very rude. I think since it costs so much they should all have smiles on their faces when they come to work. It takes a long time to save up enough money to visit such a nice resort. They should leave their problems at home and bring a smile to work.ﾒ
On the positive side, one guest said, ﾓThe desk staff at the Radisson Cable Beach were very accommodating and knowledgeable, particularly Cindy Brown and the female manager at the desk.ﾒ
The percentage was around the same for hotel food ratings.
However, hotel service was at 60 percent in May 2004, the highest percentage recorded in any month in the period in question.
Some visitors who completed the cards said they were disappointed with their stay and do not plan to return.
ﾓWe were not impressed with Nassau; this trip was specifically for Atlantis,ﾒ the visitor said. ﾓIn Nassau, we were worried about our safety and it was quite dirty.ﾒ
Another guest to the country said, ﾓWe work too hard for our money to go on vacation and come back as disappointed as we did. There was nothing we could say that would be appropriate as to how badly we were treated on our trip. There are too many other islands out there that gladly welcome visitors that we will take advantage of.ﾒ
But there were more positive comments.
ﾓOverall, satisfied with the island; it is better in The Bahamas,ﾒ one tourist wrote.
Another visitor said The Bahamas has some of the nicest and most polite people in the world.
Tourism officials suggest that ways to achieve the desired goal of above 90 percent is by remembering that a smile goes a long way, and to quit doing things in ﾓBahamian time.ﾒ
Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
