The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

AIRFARE promotions such as the ‘Two Fly Free’ programme are “critical” to sustaining business levels Family Island resort properties, the Out Island Promotion Board’s (OIPB) president warning that access costs had to be reduced to increase stopover visitor arrivals.

Speaking with Tribune Business at a recent Out Island Promotion Board meeting, Shavonne Darville said: “Currently, the Two Fly Free Programme is in market, bookable until June 30, 2014. It is unconfirmed at this time whether the programme will be extended.

“The Two Fly Free programme has helped us gain business across both domestic and international markets, even in Europe, where we can work with partners in promoting this offer to customers that plan travel to Nassau, and providing them with an opportunity to visit the Out Islands.

“The $250 national offers on vacation packages help provide an incentive for business from the US and Canadian markets, particularly when we have soft periods and the travel-by dates are set to encourage advance bookings into that period,” Ms Darville said.

“These offers, as well as the boating/fishing/dive and aviation special incentives, are not only intended to drive higher business levels but also to sustain on-going business for our members.”

She added: “The offer amounts were reduced in order to manage our budgets, so that we are able to place offers in the markets over extended periods to address business levels as needed, and create compelling offers for us to get more business to resorts.

“While many resorts have benefited, we know that one of the most important areas that will help us with our business levels is expanding our overall airlift and access. We are currently in discussions to address affordable airlift and increased access to the Out Islands.”

Last week, several Family Island resort/hotel operators, speaking with Tribune Business, expressed concern that the proposed end of the ‘2 Fly Free’ airfare promotion, which will coincide with Value-Added Tax (VAT’s) July 1, 2014, implementation, would worsen its impact.

Molly McIntosh, assistant general manager with responsibility for sales at Abaco’s Green Turtle Club, said: “We are very fortunate to have Ministry of Tourism’s ‘2 Fly Free’ Promotion in place, and that will help with any increases in the cost of the flight, but that promotion ends in June 2014 just as VAT is scheduled to start.”