The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

A tour operator yesterday called on the Government to safeguard Bahamian-owned attractions from growing competition as multi-million dollar foreign direct investment (FDI) projects transform Grand Bahama’s tourism economy.

David Wallace, operator of Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park, said the island’s tourism sector is entering a period of significant opportunity driven by increased cruise passenger arrivals. However, he warned that without policy support, Bahamian-owned businesses could struggle to compete against large-scale foreign developments that enjoy easier access to cheaper capital.

“I think the key to surviving in tourism in Grand Bahama is to adapt to the changes and become very flexible,” Mr Wallace said. He pointed to the opening of Carnival’s $600m Celebration Cay destination as evidence that adapting business models can pay off, noting that Pirate’s Cove has already seen a noticeable increase in visitors.

“Now we are seeing bigger numbers of persons coming out of Celebration Cay,” he said. “On an average day at Pirate’s Cove, we can see anywhere from 150 to 250 persons at the beach.”

Mr Wallace said many of those visitors are repeat cruise passengers who have already experienced Celebration Cay and are looking to explore more of Grand Bahama.

“Many of these persons are coming back to the island on their second or third cruise to Celebration Cay, and they’ve already seen and experienced Celebration Cay,” he said. “Some of them want to get up and see other parts of the island because they realise that Celebration Cay is located on the island of Grand Bahama.”

Mr Wallace added that cruise calls at Freeport Harbour further boost visitor traffic, with daily beach attendance rising to between 200 and 300 guests when ships are in port.

“Many of these persons, where they live, they’ve never seen a beach before,” Mr Wallace said. “They are happy to come and enjoy this beautiful water that we have.” He said Bahamian tourism operators must offer more than traditional beach experiences to encourage spending and repeat visits.

“We just want to give them that ‘wow’ experience where it’s not just the sun, sand and sea,” he said. “It is also the hospitality, but there are activities - safe activities -  that they can do while they are in Grand Bahama. Safety is our number one concern.”

While optimistic about the sector’s growth, Mr Wallace argued that government policy must ensure Bahamian entrepreneurs are not pushed aside by larger overseas investors developing similar attractions. “I think to whatever extent the Government has to protect businesses like Garden of the Groves, Pirate’s Cove, the Nature Trail, Paradise Cove and Deadman’s Reef, who’ve been in these businesses for all these years, there has to be something carved out where they can continue to exist,” he said. “We do not have the billion dollar capital to compete, but we’ve invested lots, we’ve invested all, and we are locals, born and bred and living in the country.”

Mr Wallace urged policymakers to prevent major tourism developers from duplicating experiences already offered by established Bahamian operators. “See what these guys are doing, and see how they can protect those persons who are already in the business who are Bahamians,” he said.

He also suggested government-led tourism expansion should increasingly focus on areas outside Freeport, noting that much of the city’s remaining commercial beachfront property is controlled by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA). “I think the challenge for the Government is that all of the land in the city of Freeport is owned by the Port Authority; what is left,” Mr Wallace said, adding that commercial beachfront opportunities within Freeport are becoming increasingly limited.

Instead, he encouraged the Government to leverage land under its control in east and west Grand Bahama. “I often call on theGgovernment to show us your strength by developing outside of the city of Freeport, developing in East End, Grand Bahama, where the government controls the land, or in the west, where the government is responsible for the land,” he said.

At the same time, Mr Wallace credited the Grand Bahama Port Authority for its renewed investment promotion efforts.

“The city of Freeport, I like to give the Port Authority their credit. They continue to market and promote,” he said.

“There was a time when things were in a lull in Freeport, and we raised hell with the Port. If it’s good, we have to give them their credit for their work.”