Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Joy Jibrilu brings remarks during the openingceremony for the one week workshop to train ‘world-class’ Bird/Nature Tour Guides at two pilot sites in The Bahamas. (Photo by Derek Smith)

Nassau, New Providence - The Ministry of Tourism is working in conjunction with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to strengthen bird-based tourism as a Conservation and Sustainable Development Tool by conducting a week-long workshop to train ‘world-class’ Bird/Nature Tour Guides at two pilot sites: Central Andros and Inagua.

Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Joy Jibrilu during the opening of the workshop at the British Colonial Hilton, Monday, July 28, 2014, said The Bahamas has the perfect sites for bird watching to take advantage of the $82 billion industry, which is growing at approximately eight per cent a year with an expenditure of $17 billion.

“Since 1983, the number of bird watchers in the United States alone has increased by 332 per cent. There are an estimated 46.7 million bird watchers in the United States, of which I am told more than 17 million are willing to travel for birding activities.”

The project was initiated when the BNT partnered with the National Audubon Society (NAS) and the Multi-lateral Investment Fund – a division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to grow opportunities for Avitourism or bird-based tourism in The Bahamas.

The NAS is a not for profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation since 1905. Its mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefits of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

The Director General explained that the $2.6 million project partners with local NGOs in Belize, The Bahamas, Guatemala and Paraguay to utilise the bird-watching market to create sustainable jobs in communities while simultaneously protecting biodiversity and natural resources.

She added that the bird based tourism project will capitalise on the strong demand by working with local communities, small to medium businesses, local NGOs and government agencies.

“They will also work to develop capacity and products that build bird-based tourism as a sustainable conservation and community development tool that supports rural economies and improves conservation results.”

Mrs. Jibrilu said the project sites were selected taking into consideration high important bird areas likely to attract birder tourists as well as existing conservation work taking place between National Audobon and local partners.

“The Ministry of Tourism’s function is to increase the number of visitors to The Bahamas, to create and sustain new markets to attract visitors as well as make sure they spend all their money when they come.

“So I am especially pleased to note that this project is intended to help Andros and Inagua communities, local tour operators and the Ministry of Tourism targeted marketing, to attract bird watching tourists to the selected destinations and associated businesses.”

She added, “The programme intends to foster greater local awareness and appreciation for ecosystems that support priority endemic bird species including the critically endangered Bahama Oriole, Scarlett Macaw and Quetzal, migran+t species like the Piping Plover, Wood Thrush and Butt-breasted Sandpiper and other wildlife.”

The Director General said the project is also projected to create a network of community based birding destinations across The Bahamas that offer skilled local birding guides, improved site interpretation and lodging, food service and related goods and services tailored to the birding market.

John Sterling, Audubon’s expert consultant of bird guiding and representatives from National Audubon will conduct the training from July 28 – August 1, 2014.