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Bahamian tourism is going to “have to live with” COVID-19 and devise measures to reassure both visitors and industry employees that the sector is safe, a Cabinet minister warned yesterday.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that the Government needed to work with both the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and other stakeholders in developing protocols to create the necessary “comfort” once borders re-opened and travel commenced.

Arguing that The Bahamas was “going to have no choice” but to introduce such controls, Mr D’Aguilar said the country needed to begin thinking about this now and learn from the measures other countries are putting in place.
…Continue readingTourism Has ‘No Choice’ To Devise Virus Safeguards

John Watling’s Distillery Ltd. has switched gears to produce a hand-sanitizer for The Bahamas.

Globally over 600 spirit manufacturers are now making hand-sanitizer to combat the global pandemic.

…Continue readingJohn Watlings jumpstarts production of hand sanitizer

The BHTA continues working on behalf of our Members. Our office at Fort Nassau is closed in accordance with the recently released updated Order; we are operating remotely.  Please know, we are here for you; to field  comments and questions; and/or to connect you with relevant resources who are equipped to respond to inquiries and provide further insight as needed. Keeping informed is KEY. Communication is KEY. Social Distancing is Survival.  …Continue readingBHTA Working Remotely

The Central Bank of The Bahamas has arranged with domestic banks and credit unions to provide a 3-month deferral against repayments on credit facilities for businesses and households that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This accommodation will be revisited in June 2020, for appropriate changes that may still be warranted.
…Continue readingDeferral of Loan Payments for Borrowers Displaced by COVID-19 Pandemic

Message from The President of the BHTA re the COVID – 19 virus

As private sector representatives of the Tourism Sector, assigned to the National Coordinating Committee on COVID – 19 (NCCC), the BHTA will continue to provide input and insight on behalf of the tourism sector to help achieve the committee’s mandate;  to work together to combat this threat to our health, our economy, our way of life.  We are bolstered by the fact  that we are all together in this endeavor; that many brilliant people, agencies, institutions, organizations in every possible segment of the public and private sector, are coming together; collaborating to achieve a common end.

…Continue readingBHTA President’s Message On the COVID-19

While the tourism industry has not been significantly impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) said advanced hotel bookings have “slowed” following the global outbreak.
…Continue readingHotel booking slowdown not significant

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise that recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that the COVID-19 virus has now spread to more than seventy-five (75) countries. At least, forty-seven (47) of these countries have ten (10) cases or less. Some are reporting their first cases.

…Continue readingUpdated Border Control Measures

An Airbnb executive yesterday said it was critical to expose Bahamian students to tourism opportunities as part of its responsibility as a “21st century company”.

Chloe Burke, the vacation rental facilitator’s public policy associate with responsibility for the Caribbean and Central America, teamed with the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) to host a special assembly at CC Sweeting High School to highlight potential careers with Airbnb.
…Continue readingAirbnb: Vital To Expose The Students To Tourism