Vernice Walkine, director general of Ministry of Tourism & Aviation. (Photo: Derek Smith)

NASSAU, The Bahamas - Vernice Walkine, director general of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, on Monday unveiled a plan to gain the maximum promotional benefit around the world from the Miss Universe pageant that is set to be staged in the Bahamas in August.

From the United States to Europe to the Far East, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation has set promotional efforts in motion to ensure that potential travelers hear about the Bahamas, whetting their appetites for travel here.   Ms. Walkine revealed the media partners that have signed on to make the promotional thrust around Miss Universe a significant force.

“What is does is gives us a reason to make some noise in these various market places and get the name of the Bahamas out there,” she said at a press conference held at British Colonial Hilton.

Ms. Walkine pointed out that a number of sweepstakes will be held on several continents.   The Winners of the sweepstakes will receive trips to the Bahamas, with some being able to attend the Miss Universe pageant finals on August 23 at Atlantis Resort.

In India, Femina women’s magazine will capture its readers for the Bahamas.   In Italy, the Bahamas will utilize Conde Nast magazine and www.style.it – a website to which Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair channel their readers.   Intercoiffure, a chain of luxury stores that includes 320 outlets in Germany, has been enlisted for the sweepstakes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

In Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation will use television, internet and newspapers to reach prospective travelers and in the United Kingdom, models in swimsuits will parade Bahamas-logoed towels and give sweepstakes information.

The My Miss Universe sweepstakes will be a main thrust in the United States.   Participants will nominate the woman who is most special in their life.   In 100 words or less, they will tell why that person – their mother, daughter, sister, wife or other relation - is the “center of their universe.”   The Grand Prize package for the competition is a trip to Bahamas that includes at least two islands.

Ms. Walkine also announced that special packages will be available to accompany the Miss Universe festivities.

In addition, the events of Miss Universe will, on a sustained basis, expose many Bahamian islands to the world, Miss Walkine said.

“We propose to have the contestant travel throughout the islands of the Bahamas so that we can capture their activities in these various locations for maximum promotional benefit,” she said. “And that is really the value of the hosting of this pageant for the islands of the Bahamas.”

In addition to the worldwide promotional efforts, several sweepstakes and competitions will be held within the Bahamas for Bahamian residents, said Janet Johnson, director of Communications in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

Details of the competitions will be placed in Bahamian media.   In addition, complete information will be available at www.tourismtoday.com.