By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH there is a decline in tourism arrivals in Grand Bahama, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson is encouraging the creation of more innovative tourism-based activities to lure additional cruise ship passengers off the ships.
While speaking at a tourism workshop hosted by the Bahamas Development Bank last week under the theme, 'Tourist Money Never Done", Mr Thompson urged entrepreneurs in the tourism sector to begin taking steps to create activities now and not to wait on government to send tourists to the island.
Mr Thompson said there is a perception that the island does not have enough activities for tourists.
"We need more opportunities to get more cruise ship passengers off the ship," he said.
He also said: "Every Bahamian worker has been impacted directly or indirectly by the decline in tourism numbers. However, whether we like it or not, tourism is here to stay."
He believes that it is critical that Grand Bahama distinguishes itself as a unique destination to attract more visitors on the island.
Mr Thompson stressed that business persons must consider the utilisation of technology in more tourism-in related businesses.
"Someone challenged me the other day by asking, 'why don't we try and get more cruise ships to come to Freeport,' and I responded that's good and we do need to do it; but why don't we create more opportunities to get the tourists who are already on the island off the ship so they could spend more money in the economy?" he said.
Mr Thompson explained that people cannot continue to call for more ships to come if the cruise ship visitors are not coming off the boats.
"We must be creative because we are competing not just with other islands and countries, but we are competing with islands throughout The Bahamas. We cannot continue to do the same things over-and-over again."
Challenging entrepreneurs to step out of the box and find ways to use technology in their businesses and create tourism development apps, he said would allow The Bahamas to be able to compete with the world.
Comments
truetruebahamian 5 years, 5 months ago
You have to make the ships stay overnight, close down their bars restaurants, casinos and entertainment so that people will want to come off the boats. You must provide shows and real entertainment, Cruise lines must be forced to go to major ports first before being allowed to go to their private islands and destinations where they make all of the money and get their passengers broke, sunburned and hungover. They must be encouraged to allow cash and travellers cheques as well as credit cards for their passengers rather than the cruise line charge cards. Maybe then you will see an upsurge in tourist expenditure.
The_Oracle 5 years, 5 months ago
And the above while agreed, assumes the Cruise lines themselves won't mind giving up some of their "captive dollars"
sealice 5 years, 5 months ago
Innovation??? If downtown wasn't so Fluckin NASTY!!! they'd at least get off and go for a look around but our history precedes us (the cruise lines tell the tourists it's nasty and not generally safe) and the only tourists that get off the boat do so to go drink at bars owned by foreigners or go swim on Goombay Beach. The affordable food sux downtown and there's nothing to do but go buy some made in china t-shirt from the made by China Straw Market or take your life in your hands with an island taxi tour.
bogart 5 years, 5 months ago
BEY....IS LIKE ....NOW .....YOU FIGGER DAT OUT.....???......The plain simple reason....is that your...gubbermint departments.......just aint obviously ....seems to be hiring......the CAPABLE.....COMPETENT.....STAFF......TO COME UP WID... New....PLANS.....PUT IT OUT TO EXCITE.......PEOPLE TO MAKES IT WORK....THERE ARE COUNTLESS....PROJECTS...TO GET PASSENGERS TO COME OFF THE SHIPS.....SPENDS MONEY....GO BACK TALKING....MARKETING....TO OTHER PASSENGERS......BUT BRO....IS LIKE YOU IS THE GUBBERNMENT ,PAID SALARIED.....EMPLOYEE.....AN DA REST OF WE PORE BROKE SCRAPPING ...TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET....!!!!
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