The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas has failed to convert its US proximity into affordable airfare, a tourism executive arguing that a national airlift policy is now needed to develop the Family Islands.

Kerry Fountain, the Out Islands Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business: “We have failed to convert our proximity that we brag about in our advertising. We have failed to convert that into affordability.

“Grand Bahama is 112 miles, and Exuma is 316 miles, from Miami, but look at price. Abaco to Miami is $448 and it’s 205 miles away.”

Mr Fountain, speaking while at the Abaco Business Outlook conference, said the Out Island Promotion Board has a $250 airfare credit promotion for guests staying consecutive nights at participating hotels.

“When we do a spot analysis, proximity is right at the top,” Mr Fountain said. “When we talk about weakness, the cost of getting to the islands is always right up at the top.

“I think what is required, and we are now in the embryonic stages of exploring how we do it, but what is really required is a national airlift plan for the Family Islands. We need to determine how to make it not just more convenient but more affordable as well.”

Mr Fountain added: “If we are successful, in a few years we will have a Promotion Board for Abaco, we will have a Promotion Board for Eleuthera, for Harbour lsland, for Exuma, for Bimini and then maybe we would have a Board for the central and southern Bahamas.

“They would still be a part of the corporate Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board, but they would be responsible particularly for product initiatives. Funds will come from the central board to ensure that the things that need to get done, get done.

The challenge now is to find the time to get to the Out Islands and understand really what the needs are of the hotels before you start talking about applying a solution.”

Mr Fountain urged Abaco hotels to get their “house in order” ahead of Delta service into Abaco from Arlanta, which is set to begin on December 19.

“The service is intended to operate year round as opposed to seasonally. Usually, seasonal winter service is mid-December through April,” he added.

“Delta’s intention is to operate this flight on a year-round basis two days a week. This is fair warning, Delta is here on a year-round basis. They will not be here if the hotels are closed in September.”