The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday downplayed the impact of the most recent US travel advisory while saying “it boggles the mind” to believe that criminals would deliberately hurt or target the tourism industry.

Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investments and aviation (MOTIA), speaking ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting denied that the US State Department had “downgraded” The Bahamas in advising its citizens to “exercise increased caution... due to crime”.

Refuting suggestions that The Bahamas had been moved by the US from ‘Level one’ to ‘Level two’ when it came to the destination’s safety, Mr Cooper said: “Let me firstly clear up what seemed to be a misconception. The US Embassy released a statement from their State Department, which basically updated the travel advisory.

“The travel advisory means a ‘Level two’; it has been a ‘Level two’ for quite some time. There has been no downgrade per se as it relates to the travel advisory. In fact, the travel advisory removed some of the health concerns as it relates to COVID. The report basically says exercise common sense precautions; the same precautions you would exercise at all. It is not a more severe advisory, it does not say do not travel. It simply says exercise your usual sensible precautions.”

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s president, had told Tribune Business this nation that “we will pay the price” unless rising crime is brought under control while branding the US advisory as “a warning sign we must heed”. He added that The Bahamas needs to focus on “the big picture” and realise that “everybody is a victim” of criminal activities - not just tourists, but Bahamians and residents as well as local businesses.

The US State Department’s latest travel advisory to The Bahamas warns that New Providence and Grand Bahama are suffering from a high homicide rate as a result of gang violence, and urges travellers to exercise “increase vigilance” in these areas. It added: “Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.”

Mr Cooper conceded that “any crime in The Bahamas is bad for The Bahamas. It’s bad for tourism and we must do all we can as Bahamians to manage this issue. If we see something, we say something and, of course, we find a way to settle our grievances and our differences in a harmonious matter. A crime against a Bahamian is horrific. A crime against a tourist is simply a stupid thing to do.

“In effect, what we would be doing is biting the hand that feeds us. We have maintained a high quality and standard of living, and therefore it boggles the mind that anyone would seek to kill the goose or hurt the goose that lays the golden eggs.

“So I’m calling on Bahamians everywhere to assist the police, assist the Ministry of National Security in terms of managing, curtailing and reporting criminal elements in our community. I am satisfied, though, that in relation to the travel advisory itself, that it does not escalate the alarm, so to speak, for travellers to the Bahamas.”

Referring to his ministry’s promotional efforts, Mr Cooper said: “The missions have been oversubscribed in every way. They have been oversubscribed in every way. We are very enthusiastic about the response; the brand is very strong.

“Brand Bahamas, wherever I go in the world, people want to come back with me to The Bahamas. This is a good thing. It demonstrates that we have done an exceptional job over the years in promoting and building the brand of The Bahamas. We continue to do this.”

Mr Cooper and his team have visited Florida, New Jersey and New York in recent months, and next week will head to North Carolina in an effort to continue promoting The Bahamas.

“We will see significant new flight traffic from Charlotte. American Airlines is returning and, of course, the same week will see from Raleigh, North Carolina, Bahamasair providing an inaugural flight to Freeport and we are very excited about that,” the deputy prime minister added.

“Also, we anticipate that from Charlotte there will be additional airlift to Georgetown, Exuma. There will be additional airlift to New Providence as well for the winter season. So these markets are important. We’re going to be developing more partnerships in the Charlotte area. We have some exciting meetings with some of the stakeholders there.”

Tourism numbers are also returning to 2019 levels with July arrivals less than 10 percent below the “banner year” of 2019. “We expect by the end of this year we will be very close to the 7.2m we achieved in 2019, or we will exceed it. We will definitely exceed it in 2023 based on what we’re seeing in terms of our forward bookings,” Mr Cooper said.