Minister of Tourism Addresses Teachers at the 16th Annual Educators’ Industry Internship Programme Closing

It was standing room only as the participants enjoyed a delicious Bahamian lunch and regaled their fellow educators with lessons learnt during their time “walking in the footsteps” of actual tourism professionals at resorts such as  Ardastra Gardens & Zoo Conservation Centre, British Colonial Hilton, Comfort Suites PI, Graycliff Hotel, Majestic Tours, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), Powerboat Adventures, RIU Hotel, The Counsellors Ltd., Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board (BOIPB) Hospitality Group, The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Sunrise Beach Villas, Baha Mar, Purity Bakery, The Warwick PI, SuperClubs Breezes, Harbourside Resort, Dolphin Encounters, Leisure Tours, Mandara Spa and Atlantis PI.

Educators described the pride they felt as they witnessed, first-hand the level of service provided by the staff they interacted with in the varying host properties. One intern participant spoke of a bellman in a particular resort, whose personality, congeniality and genuine hospitality left an indelible imprint in the memory of a visitor whose wife had a terminal illness. The wife, sadly, passed away after the trip. The visitor came back to the Bahamas; sought out the special man who made his wife laugh and thanked for providing her such joy during immensely difficult times. It was indeed a moving tale.  Others spoke highly of the vast talent, the quality of service, the camaraderie between the team members they met during their internship.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism addressed educators with an enthusiastic view of the tourism economy today, stating “The tourism industry is at full throttle, firing on all cylinders”.

Minister D’Aguilar posed the question; “how can we maintain the momentum and further exploit our tourism business at a deeper level to fuel continued economic growth and to raise the quality of life for a larger segment of the population”.

He emphasized the need to see past the statistics, and take a look at the humanity of tourism, and stressed the need for teachers to “harness in our youth, the soft skills of human interaction, how to be considerate, respectful, kind and hospitable”.  

Minister D’Aguilar emphasized; if students learn these qualities from their earliest youth and develop the habit of treating fellow students in a humane manner, when it is time for them to take their place on the job, great customer service would be second nature.

In addition, Minister challenged educators to teach students how to identify economic opportunities; he stressed the need to “integrate entrepreneurship in the school curriculum across grade levels” in order for us to “develop the next generation of Bahamians with a mind to go into business”.

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association expends substantial resources to support workforce development as the organization recognizes the important role that people, particularly our youth, play in achieving a sustainable, successful tourism economy.

From left to right:  Carlton Russell – President, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association, Delroy Robinson, Programme Participants, Dionesio D’Aguilar – Minister of Tourism & Aviation & Suzanne Pattusch – Executive Vice President, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association.

Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association
Fort Nassau, Suite 200, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box N-7799 | Nassau, The Bahamas
Telephone: 322-8381 |Fax: 502-4221