A Cabinet minister yesterday reiterated calls for Bahamian entrepreneurs to “step up to the plate” and maximise cruise tourism’s economic impact as a “Virgin” prepares to enter the market.
Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, said the announcement by Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, that his Virgin Voyages cruise line will be “open for business” in Bimini come 2020 highlighted how the sector’s rapid growth can aid The Bahamas.
He told Tribune Business that while “everything was still in the formative stages”, up to 2,800 cruise passengers could visit the island with every call. Virgin Voyages has confirmed that all voyages will feature The Beach Club, an experience developed in partnership with Resorts World Bimini.
“The last stop in the cruise is going to be Bimini,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “Resorts World is going to build a Beach Club to accommodate their visitors. I think there will be approximately 2,800 passengers every time the ship comes in.
“It’s not expected to happen until 2020. It’s still in the formative stages. We are delighted that another company is deciding to have The Bahamas as a part of their itinerary. As opposed to going to a private island they have decided to go to Bimini, which will hopefully have a positive impact on the local economy.”
He continued: “I think that they will be making eight visits a year to Bimini, and I think they are hoping to roll-out another vessel in 2021 or 2022 and include Bimini in their stop. Not only will this create jobs in the Beach Club but also opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs to develop and offer excursions to the passengers when they disembark. This is a clarion call for entrepreneurs. When these passengers start stopping in Bimini they are going to want to take excursion and tours.”
Mr D’Aguilar said with several cruise-related developments either in development or being proposed, The Bahamas was well-positioned to reap tremendous benefits from the industry.
“There is no doubt that The Bahamas is attractive to the cruise industry primarily because of its geographic location as the closest foreign port to the busiest cruise ports in the world,” he added.
“The Bahamas is wonderfully positioned to take advantage of all the business the cruise companies can bring. The challenge is to figure out how to deepen and increase the economic impact of all the passengers coming here. That is where we need Bahamian entrepreneurs to step up to the plate.”
Comments
DiverBelow 5 years, 1 month ago
Cruise ship have the innate ability to hypnotize government personnel with their 'potential passenger numbers' & potential economic impact. Where is it? If a third of those cattle-boat-visitor numbers stayed for 2 overnights, the economy & tourist product would be greatly increased. (air flight in, taxi airport to hotel, 5-6 meals & bar, 2-hotel nights, excursion or two, shops, taxi hotel to airport, airport tax, air flight out).
Considering how cheap the cruise clientele are (cheap cruise begets cheap client) & particularly how easily their sheer numbers can overwhelm any reasonable service staff at any shop or restaurant; it amazes me that this demeaning practice is tolerated by the locals! An issue in all cruise ship visited ports in the Caribbean. Be Proud of your tourist product!
Then there is the issues of refuse, water discharges, engine/generator exhaust while sitting around the pool at the British Colonial. Wind most always is from the east.
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