The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A leading architect yesterday said the Bahamas needs “dozens” of events similar to Junkanoo Carnival annually if it is to boost tourism revenues via cultural experiences.

Pat Rahming, principal of Pat Rahming and Associates, argued that this nation needs events that help to generate tourism revenue.

Speaking after a presentation by Paul Major, the Bahamas Festival Commission’s chairman, to the Rotary Club of West Nassau, Mr Rahming explained: “The business of tourism requires you to package what it is you are trying to sell.

“The problem with Junkanoo is that it is not packaged. You cannot sell it anywhere. You cannot sell an event, for example, that changes the time or the date that it happens. Nobody in the world would try and sell it for you. The Junkanoo leaders have to understand that for them to succeed there are some things that they have to look inside and deal with.”

     Mr Rahming added: “The problem is that we now have people arguing whether it is Junkanoo or carnival. The country needs devices that create revenue. Instead of one a year, we need dozens a year. Let’s stop talking about carnival because that’s only one event.”

   While noting the public criticism surrounding the $9 million that the Government has allocated to finance the festival, Mr Rahming agreed there could have been better uses for that money.

“Everyone is talking about this $9 million. I agree that there are better things to do with $9 million,” he said.

“We have no foundation for our cultural business. We have a country that is supposed to make a living selling its story, and there is not one single school for the performing arts, no museums or any of the things that would tell our story, but we are arguing about carnival. It is a moot point,.”

Mr Rahming added: “Carnival is an event attraction. It is positive to the extent that it has the intent to bring in some business. I don’t agree with the projections. If you bring in 100,000 customers and you do not have the products in place to sell to them, you still aren’t going to make any money.”