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Canadians contribute to tourism surge in The Bahamas

Post date: Aug 22 2018

Date: Aug 22 2018

By: Travelweek Group

NASSAU — Tourism to The Bahamas is up, with international arrivals showing a solid growth of +10.2% year-to-date, says The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

The growth trend, which first began in October 2017, is being driven by strong performance from the U.S., but a 29.6% increase through July in arrivals from Canada is also a major contributing factor.

Marketing and communications efforts in North America are being credited for increased interest from North Americans, says the Ministry. A new marketing program for 2018-19 is already underway and is anticipated to help maintain business growth.

The tourism forecast for the remainder of 2018 is up 6.7% over the August-October period, with a 10% increase expected for the final two months of the year.

“We have seen very good news and gratifying results across major Bahamian tourism sectors in recent months and are very encouraged. Using our new tracking tools, we have seen double-digit increases in international arrivals and strong business on the books for future months,” said Dionisio D’Aguilar, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

D’Aguilar also reported historic arrival numbers for Lynden Pindling International Airport, as well as “very strong occupancy rates” at the island’s hotels. “These outcomes are validation of the marketing and communications work we have been doing.”

As part of the new marketing program, the island will welcome several writers and influencers from the U.S. in the next several days to The Abacos islands in northern Bahamas. Grand Bahama Island will also host a select group of influencers while a late fall trip to Cat Island is also underway.

Moreover, the Ministry of Tourism will deploy advertising across a variety of broadcast, digital and out-of-home channels in key markets to raise awareness of the destination.

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Ministry of Tourism promotes Bahamas in Canada

The Ministry of Tourism is in Toronto promoting The Bahamas on the back of a 7% increase in visitors from Canada in 2015. It is hoped the ministry's engagement will help to continue the momentum of growth. Watch a Tourism Today report here. 

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Bahamas partners with florida panthers.

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Bahamians told: Invest into ‘big scale tourism’

As of Monday, April 22, 2024

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By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

[email protected]

More Bahamians must “invest in tourism big-scale”, the deputy prime minister is urging, challenging why this is not occurring given how “bullish” the country is on the industry.

Chester Cooper, addressing the Harbour Island Business Outlook, questioned why Bahamian entrepreneurs are not exploiting the industry’s “growth potential” to invest in larger resorts and other tourism-related projects as he pointed out that virtually all such assets are foreign-owned.

And, asserting that the Ministry of Tourism is “bringing the numbers”, with visitor arrivals for 2024 year-to-date some 13 percent ahead of last year’s record-breaking nine million-plus, he urged Bahamians to develop more attractive tours and activities that will - particularly for cruise ship passengers - “that will make our guests want to leave the island with their pockets empty”.

Mr Cooper, who is also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, acknowledged the need to increase per capita spending by cruise ship passengers if The Bahamas is to maximise the economic benefits from this tourism segment but placed the onus on the private sector and its innovation, ingenuity and creativity to achieve this.

Praising Jack’s Bay, the Eleuthera resort development headed by Sir Franklyn Wilson and former Cabinet minister, Tommy Turnquest, the deputy prime minister hailed it as a project that “truly speaks wonders for Bahamian entrepreneurs and Bahamian entrepreneurship”.

“This is something where, if there was one area we could improve improve in our overall investment landscape, it’s Bahamian investment in tourism big-scale,” Mr Cooper said. “If you think of all the resorts in Eleuthera, if you think of all the resorts in New Providence and Exuma for that matter, we will find that most of them are owned by foreigners.

“If we are so bullish and we are so optimistic and enthusiastic about the growth and potential we are seeing in tourism, why aren’t we investing more in tourism?” He also praised Bahamians who have invested in Airbnbs and other vacation rental-type products for “enjoying some of the wealth tourism is bringing”.

The lack of Bahamian ownership and investment in tourism, beyond boutique hotels, tour and excursion providers (supposedly reserved for 100 percent local ownership under the National Investment Policy), and vacation rentals has been a concern voiced frequently over the years as it means the largest assets in the country’s number one industry are chiefly owned and controlled by foreigners.

Bahamian entrepreneurs, though, will likely counter by pointing to an unequal playing field with their overseas counterparts. Foreigners are able to access capital at cheaper interest rates for “big scale” tourism projects in The Bahamas, while many local commercial banks and risk averse and do not lend to the resort sector. There also complaints that Bahamians are not given access to the same investment incentives.

Mr Cooper, meanwhile, branded The Bahamas’ investment market as “very vibrant and robust” with Eleuthera said to be “playing a pivotal role”. He added that regardless of where investment is occurring on the island, “we know a rising tide for Eleuthera will float all boats”.

“The Briland Club right here has already put $130m in the ground,” the deputy prime minister said. “It’s a beautiful marina from what I have seen at night, and we expect an additional $150m investment in this development. Utopia is $75m, and this is in the Governor’s Harbour area.” The Briland Club’s developer is Michael Wiener’s 4M Harbour Island, with Sterling Global Advisors the development manager.

Elsewhere on Eleuthera, Mr Cooper said the Davis marina is “continuing its development with 24 slips” while the French Leave marina now includes a fixed mega yacht slip to attract this market. The $200m Ritz-Carlton project in south Eleuthera was said to be “progressing well, while Cape Eleuthera is adding 20 new cottages.

“We are bringing the numbers,” Mr Cooper said of his ministry. “We want and need more experiences to get persons out of the hotels or off the ships and spending money. We want to ensure we are increasing the level of spend of visitors who come to Eleuthera or any island of The Bahamas by cruise ship.”

With “the empowerment of Bahamians” through entrepreneurial opportunities a key focus of his ministry, Mr Cooper added: “We can enrich the visitor experience and they can spend more money. So the Ministry of Tourism will bring the numbers, as you have been hearing, and last year we brought almost ten million.

“The trouble with breaking records is you have got to do it again, but I am happy to tell you so far, so good. This year we are about 13 percent [ahead] so far. We can bring the numbers, but we cannot extract the money out of their pockets. This is where you come in as stakeholders in the tourism industry.

“We have, and you have, to make our guests want to leave the islands of The Bahamas with their pockets empty by creating the experiences and customer care that will continue to make us the delight of the world.”

sheeprunner12 1 day, 6 hours ago

Which present national leader has real skin in the Bahamian tourism/hotel business????

Wonder why???????

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joeblow 1 day, 4 hours ago

... covid should have taught us the importance of diversifying the economy! These people will never learn!

ThisIsOurs 1 day, 2 hours ago

" the Ministry of Tourism is “bringing the numbers”

No they're not. Every single tourist market in the world is benefiting from the post COVID travel boom. In fact the other markets are doing better than us to the point where they're begging people to stay away. Stop taking credit for what God gave us, " location ". In the other story the exit interviews speak of garbage, derelict vehicles and blighted areas... the things we can do aren't being done. Seems like the story of GB and Abaco.

The Ministry of Tourism could take on Long Wharf to Arawak Cay, instead they continue to allow this uncoordinated mishmash of randomly constructed stalls to exist and grow with no end in sight. It's a mystery to me why we build a city to hide the beaches or sell them off. Right before our eyes they're destroying the beach at Long Wharf

Dawes 18 hours, 21 minutes ago

Long Wharf looks worse and worse every time i see it. Soon it will extend to Arawak. It looks like people are just putting up stalls and know the Government won't enforce any rules. There is no master plan for the area so when they finally decide to do something there will be outrage as people will say they have been there for 20 years

ThisIsOurs 5 hours, 34 minutes ago

Seems about right

IslandWarrior 17 hours, 32 minutes ago

Let's talk transparency—or the lack thereof.

To Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper,

Your call for more Bahamian investment in large-scale tourism projects highlights a crucial issue facing our nation's economic landscape. While your sentiments echo the aspirations of many local entrepreneurs, underlying challenges hinder their ability to engage robustly in such ventures.

One fundamental obstacle lies in the lack of a transparent and equitable process for submitting project proposals to the government. Too often, these proposals fall victim to bureaucratic hurdles influenced by political affiliations, personal biases, or petty rivalries. To foster genuine participation from Bahamian investors, we must establish an open and accountable framework for project submission. This framework should include designated points of contact for proposal submission, a commitment to confidentiality, acknowledgement of receipt, and a structured system for progress updates.

Furthermore, the disparity in access to capital between local and foreign investors exacerbates the issue. Foreign entities often enjoy preferential treatment, accessing capital at more favourable interest rates for large-scale projects. Meanwhile, local banks exhibit risk aversion, particularly in lending to the resort sector, further limiting opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs. Addressing this inequity requires proactive measures to level the playing field, ensuring domestic investors receive comparable incentives and support.

Beyond rhetoric and headlines, the real challenge lies in fostering an environment conducive to Bahamian entrepreneurship. This demands a departure from politics-driven agendas and a genuine commitment to empowering our local business community. We can realise the vision of a thriving, locally-owned tourism sector through concerted efforts to eliminate barriers and provide equal opportunities.

Let us transcend political divides and collaborate in building a future where Bahamian investors can contribute meaningfully to the growth and prosperity of our nation's tourism industry.

Sincerely, Bahamian Investors

whogothere 17 hours, 17 minutes ago

Why push big tourism on small islands? Particularly when the Gov have not addressed the infrastructures issue that these projects cause - fix water, power, trash, housing issues first, then nourish and encourage small boutique hotels that are more likely to buy local and employ locally second - What works in Nassau doesn't work everywhere. Most of the money these big projects is spent out side of the country - on materials and specialised labor during the construction process. Then when the project is complete they end up bringing foreign labor to run them because experience and labor resource of running 'big' business is limited in the out islands...Common sense dictates that development should be scaled to the infrastructure and labor resources available to an island....

Disappointing outlook from our tourism minister...

IslandWarrior 16 hours, 45 minutes ago

The Bahamas is a major player in the tourism industry, with both perceptions and reality shaping the sector.

The Cruise Line Industry is navigating toward prosperous waters, with forecasts projecting a robust revenue of $25.4 billion by 2033, boasting a remarkable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.6%. This trajectory signals a buoyant future for cruise operators, underlining the enduring allure of sea-bound travel.

In 2023, the Global Cruise Market was valued at a substantial $9.2 billion, underscoring the industry’s significant economic impact on a global scale. This figure not only reflects the financial magnitude of cruising but also emphasizes its status as a vital component of the global tourism sector. Notably, between 2019 and 2023, a staggering 65% of cruise passengers hailed from the United States. This statistic reaffirms America’s status as a powerhouse in the cruise market.

Moreover, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the Cruise Industry is witnessing a heartening trend: 85% of travelers who have previously embarked on a cruise express a willingness to set sail once more. This figure marks a resilient recovery, standing 6% higher than pre-pandemic levels. It underscores the enduring appeal of cruising, demonstrating the industry’s ability to bounce back and adapt to changing circumstances.

Bahamians should be aware of the economic dynamics in their own country, where billions of dollars in tourism revenue are sailing and flying into the Bahamas only to leave the next day. We are not capturing the opportunity. We need to focus on meeting the needs of our visitors, which is currently not happening. As a result, the cruise industry has taken the initiative to cater to the needs of tourists. While the Bahamas earns only $18 from each cruise passenger, the cruise islands earn an average of $500 from each visitor.

Economist 16 hours, 1 minute ago

Well said. Right on target. No real economic benefit to Bahamians.

pt_90 14 hours, 51 minutes ago

You mean like Toby Smith on PI

bcitizen 8 hours, 59 minutes ago

I was thinking the same thing but, you already typed it.

ThisIsOurs 5 hours, 25 minutes ago

Someone had to have given RCI Toby's entire proposal.

And why lose all that revenue from the guests coming off the ship? Between the nastiness of Arawak Cay and the pristine presentation of the beach club, especially after the announcer tells me about fights, harassment and crime, I know which one I'd choose.

Just like the straw market vendors, I wait for the vendors at Arawak Cay to complain about losing all their revenue to the beach club only for Chestrr Cooper to tell them they should have done something to improve their product in 2024. Maybe theyll be able to capture some interest from the water ferried guests hurrying to get back to the ship after theyve spent all their budgeted money at the beach club

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Bahamas Tourism Appoints Valery Brown-Alce as Deputy Director General

• April 23, 2024

Valery Brown-Alce is the newest deputy director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, according to a press release.

Effective immediately, the announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation Chester Cooper.

“I am very pleased to appoint Mrs. Brown-Alce as the second sitting Deputy Director General,” said Cooper.  “She brings a depth and wealth of knowledge gained while working in the tourism field for more than three decades. Her results-driven and inclusive attitude for all team members, coupled with her impressive professional record, will certainly add tremendous value in her new role.”

Brown-Alce will be responsible for the development and execution of global sales strategies, management of international airline, retail and tour operator relationships as well as overseeing the Bahamas Tourist Offices in the United States, Canada and Europe.

“The appointment of Mrs. Brown-Alce as Deputy Director General heralds a transformative era for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. Her invaluable contributions across our tourist offices worldwide underscore her profound impact on our international presence. With her strategic insight and extensive expertise, Mrs. Brown-Alce is exceptionally well-positioned to enhance our global sales strategies, cultivate essential partnerships, and drive the sustained advancement of our tourism sector. We are confident in her ability to lead these initiatives, ensuring The Bahamas remains a premier destination on the global stage,” said Latia Duncombe, director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

Brown-Alce has worked in both private and public tourism marketing sectors. She earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing from The University Of New Haven.

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N.B. tourism minister defends pricey trip to United Kingdom, France

Tammy scott-wallace says new brunswick can learn ‘best practices’ from windsor castle, palace of versailles.

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New Brunswick's tourism minister is defending a trip she and her top officials took to the United Kingdom and France that helped her deputy minister rack up a $77,000 travel bill last year.

Tammy Scott-Wallace said the trip last September included meetings with a number of tour operators and public relations firms in London and Paris that have contracts to market the province to potential visitors from the two countries.

"That's incredibly important. It's a good day's work and it's a good seven days' work for me, I'll tell you that," Scott-Wallace said.

Her deputy, Yennah Hurley, sat next to her as she spent more than an hour responding to questions about the trip from Liberal MLA and tourism critic Isabelle Thériault during a meeting of the legislature committee studying budget estimates. 

As first reported by CBC News, Hurley's expenses for the trip totalled $12,328, part of the $77,710 overall she claimed last year.

Scott-Wallace's trip cost $10,199.

"What did it give the taxpayers of New Brunswick, that you went there for eight days?" Thériault asked.

"It's really not clear what you did, except visit some places. Like, you have to face the music."

Two other officials from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture also made the trip.

Scott-Wallace acknowledged that no travel conferences or tourism trade shows were part of her schedule.

But she said it was important to meet with the tour operators and public relations firms hired to represent the province in the U.K. and France to rebuild connections frayed during COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"These are key markets for our province," she said.

Departmental staff then "built an itinerary," Scott-Wallace said, that included visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, the British Museum, the London Eye and the Palace of Versailles — all of them expensed to taxpayers.

N.B. tourism minister defends pricey European trip

The visits by her officials to the Palace of Versailles and Windsor Palace — which she pointed out she did not visit herself — provided insights into managing "built heritage," the minister said.

New Brunswick has "similar sites, but on a smaller scale, absolutely," Scott-Wallace argued.

"There are best practices all over the country, all over the world, and when we are there having meetings with stakeholders, it's important we learn those best practices while we're there." 

She also said 45-minute tours offered at the British Museum in London could be a model for an abbreviated tour of the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John offered to cruise ship visitors.

She called the London facility "truly a new, modern-age museum, and I think the people of New Brunswick deserve to have a modern, state-of-the-art museum." 

No one from the New Brunswick Museum was part of the London visit but it was set up at the suggestion of the Saint John museum's staff, Scott-Wallace said.

Thériault told CBC News she wasn't satisfied with Scott-Wallace's responses.

"I didn't get clear answers," she said.

Scott-Wallace said New Brunswick recorded 122,600 "visit nights" from French tourists in 2023, worth $11.6 million in revenue, and 121,000 from U.K. visitors, worth $18.2 million.

Trips to the province from the U.K. were up 23 per cent last year, compared to 2022, while trips from France were up 12 per cent. 

Asked if Premier Blaine Higgs or someone else approved the trip in advance, Scott-Wallace said such trips are normal for the department.

"It is budgeted for. It is part of the work that we do," she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.