The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

JAMAICA- RESORTS World Bimini’s president yesterday said the development was expecting to attract between 125,000-150,000 visitors next year, benefiting from its parent’s North American strategy to capitalise on the ‘explosion’ of Asian visitors over the next four to five years.

Ed Farrell, who was a panellist at the CIBC Infrastructure Conference in Jamaica, said Resorts World’s Bimini casino was a part of the long-term strategy being developed by its majority owner, Malaysian gaming giant, Genting.

“The casino is part of our long-term strategy as we develop in North America, and certainly Las Vegas,” Mr Farrell said. “ The North America strategy is key for the company in bringing in Chinese tourists to our destinations.

“The casino, right now, is a nice, small casino, very high end for the square footage. Certainly in 2018, when our Las Vegas property opens up, we will be bringing more people from Asia into North America, and we expect Bimini and the Bahamas to benefit.”

Genting broke ground in March on Resorts World Las Vegas, a $4 billion integrated resort, which will be located at the former Stardust Hotel site on the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel and casino venue is expected to be completed and launched in mid-2018.

Mr Farrell said Resort’ World’s total investment in Bimini was well over $400 million.

“Our investment in public projects is somewhere between $10 and $15 million,” he added.

Mr Farrell said the company’s Bimini SuperFast cruise ship, which operates out of Miami, is averaging 100,000 passengers a year.

“The pace on the SuperFast is around 100,000 visitors per year, and with that on top of the air and other avenues to get to the island, we expect to meet between 125,000 and 150,000 arrivals next year,” Mr Farrell said.