The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM officials on Grand Bahama attended a service at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday in observance of the Ministry of Tourism’s 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville and officials from various government agencies were also present.

Tourism on Grand Bahama is beginning to rebound, with new flights already coming from six cities in Canada on Sunwing. The new Memories Resort is also set to open soon at the former Reef Village Resort in Lucaya.

David Johnson, Director General of Tourism, congratulated all those persons who have served in tourism for the past 50 years.

He said 2014 was a special year for Grand Bahama.

“We will re-establish Grand Bahama in the market… and make it one that becomes profitable again,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Tourism Act has enabled the Bahamas to become the unchallenged leader in tourism development and promotion for most of the past 50 years.

Although the country has lost some ground to the Caribbean, Mr Johnson said the country, including Grand Bahama, is positioned to regain its prominence and claw back much of the loss it shed to its neighbours in the region.

“Colleagues, if we are to succeed in our quest, if we are to achieve success in GB, we must change and pursue the spirit embodied in the Tourism Act,” he said.

The director-general stressed that stakeholders in tourism must raise their game and examine their business strategies, tactics and practices.

“We must take steps to ensure that we are serving up the kind of experience that exceeds the visitors’ expectation, and earning profits while doing so,” he said.

Mr Johnson said there was no room for politics.

“Now is the time we must rise above partisan politics in our conduct and decision making process at both the public and private sector levels and put country and Grand Bahama first.

“If not, we are behaving at no high standard of serving this country than those we recognise as criminals, except we are doing so within the confines of the law.”

Mr Johnson said the Bahamas and Grand Bahama has only scratched the surface and has so much more potential than its competitors have.

“I have seen the competition; and if we get our act together they cannot touch us.

“Our country has much better investment and greater value because we have so much more productive growth and earning potential, having only scratched the surface with not more than 10 per cent capacity utility, whereas they, on the other hand, are close to being maxed out and are at advance stages of their development,” he added.

In order for Grand Bahama to be successful, it will require the full support of the community, he said.

During his sermon, Father Alvardo Adderley said the Bahamas has been blessed over the past 50 years in tourism.

“Some countries in the Caribbean do not see three cruise ships in a week; we are blessed to see them in a day.

“But, if we don’t protect what we have, we will lose it. Mr Johnson, Dr Darville and Minister Wilchcombe cannot do it by themselves; it takes each and every one of us.”

He was disappointed that none of the school students on the island were in attendance to celebrate such an important milestone in tourism.

“Schoolchildren should be here, we need to teach them. We put all our eggs in one basket, tourism, but as I see it, we don’t have the leaders for tomorrow in here,” he said.