Bahamas News

Florida’s leading travel agents pleased with visit to Grand Bahama

Published

6 years ago

November 1, 2017

#UnitedStates, November 1, 2017 – Plantation, FL – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (MOTA) Plantation’s office recently hosted several travel agents from West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade Counties, to Grand Bahama Island, October 27-28, 2017 via Balearia Caribbean. The visit, which was part of the MOTA ongoing campaign, “The Bahamas is Open For Business, Come See For Yourself,” gave the agents an opportunity to experience first hand, the island’s major hotels, marinas and tourist attractions.

“Feedback from the agents have been very positive and encouraging; the agents left the destination confident, knowledgeable and ready to sell our second city, Grand Bahama Island,” said Donna Mackey, Sr. Sales Manager, MOTA.

According to Jennifer Gardiner-Bannister, Area Manager at the MOTA, “we have worked assiduously with our travel agents and tour operators communities over the past few years. As we continue to strengthen our partnership alliance, we want to also build on our ‘on-line, off-line, on-island’ strategy with them. This three step strategy, ‘on-line’, which through our website and other social media marketing platforms, provides awareness to these agents of our destination programs, new development, etc.; ‘off-line’ gives us an opportunity to engage and connect with them one-on-one, during sales missions product launches, training seminars and; on-island, where we invite agents to The Bahamas to better understand, promote and personally experience our diverse and unique multiple destination chain. We want to ensure that we have and are providing them with the resources and all the information necessary, for them to do business with us and their clients to visit our shores, again and again,” she said.

“Many persons seem to think that The Bahamas was devastated by the recent hurricanes. While two of our Southern islands, in particular, Ragged Island and Acklins, did sustain some property and infrastructural damages from Hurricane Irma, the rest of The Bahamas did not, including the hotels and marinas in our major islands: Nassau, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, Exuma, Abaco, Bimini, Andros and Eleuthera. Tourism is our number one industry and the economic engine for the country, so it is imperative that we let the world know, through these agents, that The Bahamas feared well and is “open for business, come see for yourself,” she said.

The trip is one of several on-going trips planned for the islands of Grand Bahama, Nassau and Bimini. In addition to the familiarization trips, the MOTA sales departments have since the summer season, conducted a series of lunch and learn seminars on land and at sea to top producing travel agents in Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Press Release: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

Bahamas News

Grand Bahama to be CARGO HUB, as Bahamas & Qatar ink MOU

Published

2 days ago

September 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, September 29, 2023 – With moves to deepen ties, governments of The Bahamas and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to solidify agreements in principle surrounding the development of aviation and other related services.

This is according to Chester Cooper, The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation in a Facebook post.

This comes after The Bahamas Government in a press release on September 24th, revealed that Cooper, was set to meet with the head of Qatar Airways to have talks regarding “multiple mutually beneficial aviation opportunities for both countries.”

The release also said the deputy prime minister and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation are working on “forging strategic partnerships with several Middle Eastern countries to strengthen ties to The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” and this new signing is indicative of such efforts.

Following the September 25th signing, on September 27th, Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas informed via Facebook some details of the agreement saying, “we have now established a framework for cooperation and formed strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways, Qatar’s Transport, Aviation and Investment Agencies and The Qatar Aeronautical Academy, that will benefit our country.”

Regarding further efforts for the improvement of The Bahamas, Cooper announced on Facebook again on Tuesday September 26th that both countries are working to make Nassau a passenger hub for Latin America and the Caribbean adding that talks are being held for Grand Bahama as a cargo hub.

Additionally, as the press release informed, Cooper is preparing for an on ground visit of Bahamasair domestic operations by Qatar Airways Technical team sometime in October.

Bahamas News

CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED ALONG EXUMA CHAIN

Published

3 days ago

September 28, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Defence Headquarters 28 SEP ’23: HMBS P-45 under the command of Chief Petty Officer Acadia Smith detained a group of Cuban migrants in Cistern Cay, Exuma on September 27, 2023, due to information received from a Good Samaritan vessel in the area that handed them over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Members of HMBS P-45 retrieved twenty-eight (28) Cuban nationals and transported them to HMBS Coral Harbour in New Providence. All individuals appeared to be in good health and will undergo further processing and assessment by Immigration officials.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage and appreciates the sharing of information and intelligence provided by the boating community to affect migrants and other unlawful interdictions at sea.

(For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our official website at www.rbdf.gov.bs. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and explore our engaging content on our YouTube channel).

RBDF

Bahamas News

CTO mourns the passing of former chairman Obediah Wilchcombe

Published

5 days ago

September 26, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#BARBADOS (September 26, 2023) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) deeply mourns the loss of distinguished Bahamian leader and former chairman of the inter-regional body, Obediah Wilchcombe.

At the time of his passing, Mr. Wilchcombe was serving as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.

“We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Minister Wilchcombe’s family, as well as the government and people of the Bahamas. He was a true champion for the people of the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region,” remarked Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.

Chairman Bryan recalled Minister Wilchcombe held the position of CTO Chairman twice (2002-2004 and 2016-2017) while serving as Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, and contributed significantly to the advancement of sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean.

Chairman Bryan noted that the CTO plans to honor the life and legacy of “this eminent Bahamian leader” at the organization’s upcoming business meetings and the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Turks and Caicos next month.