The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday that he intends to pursue the religious and sports tourism market, telling Tribune Business yesterday that heavy focus would be placed on Grand Bahama's ailing tourism sector almost immediately.

Speaking with Tribune Business after his appointment, Mr Wilchcombe said: "The objective is to get some heads in beds, and to ensure that our yield increases.

"We have been concerned that we have been having a steady rise in the cruise industry, but a drop in the airlift. We have to work now to increase the airlift to ensure that our hotel occupancy levels increase, with room rates remaining at the level they ought to be at.

"We also have to look at Grand Bahama, which has a very low tourism arrivals number. We have to change that and get those numbers back up. Because of Grand Bahama's state of affairs we are going to be putting a lot of focus on Grand Bahama almost immediately."

Mr Wilchcombe added: "We also have to look at what we have to offer. We have long thought that we could be a film centre. We have proven it before in 2002, and we are going to go after that market again.

"We are also going to pursue the religious and sports tourism market, and we are also going to try and get tourism all year-round. The whole idea is to get occupancy levels up, get business continuously coming and ensure that we are at all times providing new opportunities. We are going to go after groups and major religious events, because there is a lot of spend when religious and sports tourists come to the Bahamas."