Category: BHA News

Earnest efforts and promotions to attract visitors to countries in the Caribbean region, including the Bahamas, have so far failed in bringing the number of tourists to our shores to match last year’s numbers, Prime Minister Ingraham revealed.

Speaking at the Regional Forum on the Occasion of the Inter-American Development Bank’s 50th Anniversary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Friday, Mr Ingraham said that despite serious discounting and other incentives offered in the travel and hotel deals, occupancy levels remain well below those achieved last year by all of the Caribbean tourism economies.

And on the employment front, he said, to date the economic downturn has resulted in 2,200 lay-offs in the Bahamas’ hotel sector, which amounts to one per cent of the country’s entire work force.

Mr Ingraham said that the Bahamas was one of the first countries in the region to feel the effects of the slowing global economy.
…Continue readingTourism Suffering Despite Promos and Incentives

Bahamas’ Ambassador Cornelius A. Smith is worried that the “twin pillars” of his country’s economy – tourism and offshore banking – are cracking under the global economic crisis and U.S. efforts to close foreign tax shelters.
…Continue readingBahamas Tourism Faces Grim Economic Outlook

It’s unclear what if any new resources the Ministry of Tourism will throw at its Hotel Licensing Unit in an effort to bring as many as 1,000 second homeowners — now treating their properties like hotels — into compliance with the new law. In fact, the department’s head tells Guardian Business the government will be largely dependent on the honesty of those proprietors to win what could be millions of dollars in revenue.
…Continue readingGov’t Yet to Empower New Hotel Legislation

Downtown Nassau visitors are getting personal attention in identifying attractions and having their questions addressed through the corps of Tourism Ambassadors recently organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.
…Continue readingDowntown Tourism Ambassadors Cater To Visitors

Fellow Tourism Industry Professionals… You are invited to attend the opening exhibition of paintings by Nettica Symonette at the Central Bank this Friday.  Nettie is a Lifetime Director of BHA…Continue readingNettie Symonette’s Art Exhibition

As the tourism sector on the island continues to dwindle, one resort is repositioning itself to cater to visitors rather than tourists.
…Continue readingNew Approach to Tourism For Pelican Bay Resort

The first step in the $409.5 million makeover of the nation’s main gateway is complete as government and Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) officials broke ground on the project at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) last Thursday.
…Continue readingNAD Breaks Ground on $409 Million Airport Expansion

Over twenty Bahamian students will be participating in the first Bahamas Environmental Youth Program, a week-long camp being held in Andros later this month, organized by the Bahamas National Trust…Continue readingBNT and Partners First Annual Student Environmental Camp

How should Caribbean governments seek to support tourism during a global recession?

At a time of diminishing national reserves, this is a question set to haunt the industry, governments and the region as a whole, if, as seems probable, both public revenues and visitor arrivals continue to decline.

…Continue readingWhat Can the Caribbean Do About the Recession?

There are growing worries among staff at the Old Bahama Bay hotel in West Grand Bahama that their jobs may be on the line, as Ginn is reportedly set to put the property on the market.
…Continue readingLayoffs Feared at Old Bahama Bay