By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net
The Deputy Prime Minister yesterday said “tech tourism” must lead the creation of a Bahamian technology industry as the Government moves to give the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) more authority.
Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investments and aviation, speaking at the agency’s tech tourism event aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, said: “We recently launched something we called Innovate 242. Innovate 242 is a push across the country to re-establish our technology industry. We formed a partnership with the Ottawa Tech Hub 350, which is the largest tech hub in Canada.
“We're looking to cement more such partnerships, and this partnership is going to focus on agri-tech, edu-tech, Bio-tech, Health-tech - all aspects of technology, and fin-tech. But today we are focused on tech-tourism, and this is delightful because tech-tourism must lead the way for our technology industry in the Bahamas.”
Mr Copper said his ministry and the TDC are aiming to build connectivity between visitors and Bahamian tourism operators. New legislation is on the way to further strengthen the TDC and give it the “statutory authority” to work on linkages and innovation in the sector that will benefit Bahamian entrepreneurs. Mr Cooper said it is expected that the proposed Bill will be passed in Parliament “very soon".
Latia Duncombe, the Ministry of Tourism's director-general, said: “The key objective of this expo is to provide an opportunity to make tourism businesses more economically viable by encouraging entrepreneurs to utilise digital commerce techniques.
“Organisers have also facilitated representatives from financial institutions to connect with entrepreneurs, and discuss business innovative e-commerce possibilities through digitisation of their business practices and procedures. These actions all present an excellent opportunity for Bahamian entrepreneurs to increase sales and secure a strong foothold in the digital business landscape.”
Mrs Duncombe added:“According to the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation), an investment in innovation and technology with a focus on artificial intelligence, AI, blockchain systems, augmented reality/AR and virtual reality/VR was the only indicator that remained positive during the pandemic.
The Bahamas benefited from the use of digital health visas when the COVID-19 pandemic travel protocols were in effect, as it allowed Bahamians and visitors to travel with proof that they had either been vaccinated or tested negative for the virus.
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