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Bahamas goes all out after the general aviation market
By Jeannie Gibson, MOT
Sep 1, 2009 - 5:58:08 PM

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AIRLINE PILOTS AND EXECUTIVES HOSTED TO SEMINAR AND FAM IN BAHAMA ISLANDS – At airport in Freeport, Grand Bahama L-R Mark Steinburg, Bahamas Flying Ambassador; Don Campion, President and Owner of Banyan Air Service, FBO, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport; Chris Rose, AOPA Pilot; Greg Rolle, Chief Aviation Specialist, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation; Jack McCormick, Baja Bush Pilots Association, Arizona; Tom Horne, Editor at large, AOPA Magazine; Tony Restaino, Florida Aero Flying Club; Terry Spurlock, Bahamas Flying Ambassador and Karen Wring, BMOTA.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida - They’ve thrown down the gauntlet, flung the doors open wide, and issued an all points bulletin that private planes are welcome to fly down to see why the saying goes, “It’s Better In The Bahamas.”

 

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation in a bold and aggressive move targeting the multi-billion general aviation/private plane market, recently rolled out the red carpet to lavishly pamper key aviation executives - mostly in the Florida market.   The venue was a Grand style Familiarization tour of some of the most picturesque portions of the beautiful archipelago, and included travel to Grand Bahama, Long Island, Cat Island and Abaco.

 

On the four day/three night familiarization tour were some 32 persons including pilots, representatives from  Aviation Clubs, Associations,   Aviation schools, FBO’s (Fixed Based Operations) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

 

With more than 640,000 private pilots in the U.S. and some 48, 244 in the state of Florida alone, the Bahamas is making every effort to capture its share of this lucrative market.   Statistical 2008 data indicates that during that year, the visit of some 82, 949 Private Pilots accounted for 476,593 room nights for the Bahamas, with the overwhelming majority going to the Family Islands.

 

To encourage even greater activity in this market, the Bahamas is heralding its message as follows: Proximity to US (especially Florida); Abundance of airports encourage island hopping; Radar coverage/ flight following from US through TIOTB; The beauty of the unspoiled Islands and Cays and the simplicity of Customs and Immigration procedures.

 

Already the Bahamas, over the years, have made great strides in their initiatives against the general aviation market through several marketing strategies including the Preferred Gateway FBO program and Bahamas Flying Ambassadors (pilots with extensive experience in flying the Islands of The Bahamas).

 

During the recent Fam, the pilots and airline executives, were treated to breathtaking views flying over the Islands, but the old fashioned Island hospitality on the Family Islands went further. There was the  Bahamian style buffet menu with native dishes on Long Island;  a rake and scrape reception in Cat Island;  and on Abaco the  welcome reception featured  delicious conch salad and   “Bahama Mama” (drinks), following an exhilarating day on  the water enjoying   power boat rides    to brief and exciting visits of neighboring  Cays.

 

Many of the attendees, at the end of the Fam agreed that a highlight of the weekend was the round-table seminar in Freeport, Grand Bahama, that had kicked off the four-day event.   The seminar had featured Bahamian airport officials, representatives from the local FBO as well as Bahamian officials from Customs, Immigration and even the Royal Bahamas Police Force – all available to provide information and answer questions from the aviation executives.

 

One of the persons representing the Miami Executive Airport, Eddie Sanchez  shared ,  “I thought it was going to be more difficult with paperwork and everything, but flying to The Bahamas was really easy, from a pilot’s point of view. “  The trip was Sanchez’s first Private Plane flight to The Islands, and he said of his overall impression “it was easy to navigate from Island to Island.   I don’t know why I haven’t done it before, but I am already planning to go back.”

 

Bahamas Flying Ambassador, Rick Asper, did not  join the group on the Fam, however, bidding them safe travels as they left the U.S. mainland, he summed-up The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s position as follows: “Nobody treats general aviation pilots like The Bahamas.”

 

 

 

About The Islands Of The Bahamas

The Islands Of The Bahamas form a 100,000-sq-mile archipelago that extends over 500 miles of the clearest water in the world, just 500 miles off the cost of Florida. Our 700 islands, including uninhabited cays and large rocks, total an estimated land area of 5,382 sq miles, and register a highest land elevation of 206 ft. Most notable, however, is that each island has its own diversity that continues beyond geography, carrying through to the heart of the Bahamas, the Bahamian people. You’ll find it in our heritage, in our culture, and in our humble pride. These are The Islands of the Bahamas. Population: somewhere north of 300,000. For more information on The Islands of The Bahamas call  1-800- Bahamas or visit bahamas.com

 


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