By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe says a new operator has paid a deposit on the casino in Lucaya and a major deal could be settled soon for Sunwing’s further involvement with the Grand Lucaya Resort properties.
“There is a new casino operator that has paid a deposit and is hoping that we will make an announcement soon, of course … we need more inventory and we are waiting for the deal to be completed concerning the Grand Lucaya and Lighthouse properties,” he said yesterday.
The minister said that once the deal with Sunwing is sorted, the new casino will come on board. “That’s what we have been waiting for,” he said in Grand Bahama.
“I am hoping that the (Sunwing) deal is completed very shortly … because talks have been going on now for Sunwing’s further involvement with properties on the Lucaya Beach strip. I am very confident that the numbers will continue to grow. We need a bit more inventory and we need more airlift,” he said.
In West End, Mr Wilchcombe said he is optimistic about the negotiations going on now regarding the Old Bahama Bay Resort and Gin sur Mer. “We have two proposals at the table and we are looking at them,” he said. “We have not signed off on any of them yet, but we are in discussions and are optimistic. We have some major players at the table with great plans about the product they would like to have down there.”
Mr Wilchcombe said the Prime Minister will soon make a major announcement about other developments on the island, particularly in East Grand Bahama and that the government is looking at how to create a sustainable tourism product in Grand Bahama, Nassau and in the other Family Islands.
He indicated that an announcement will take place in Eleuthera today.
“Tourism is the number one industry in the world and in the Bahamas. We have been the leader before we have to return to that level, an we are moving back in that direction, but we have to stay ahead of the game with inventory, recreating the product, and marketing by getting the message out to the world,” he said.
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