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News : Ministry of Tourism Updates Last Updated: Jun 2, 2020 - 7:04:15 PM


Director General of Tourism remarks at Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan Press Conference
Jun 2, 2020 - 5:00:19 PM

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Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu. BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs

Press Conference

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

The Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan

Remarks by

Mrs. Joy Jibrilu

Director General 

Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

Members of the Press, I would like to thank you, in particular, for keeping this appointment as we meet this morning to officially introduce to our country, the Bahamas Tourism Readiness & Recovery Plan, which will guide our nation as we reopen our tourism economy within a few short weeks.

This tourism readiness and recovery plan, which we unveil today, is the outcome of a mammoth collaboration involving a broad network of stakeholders from every sector of our tourism industry. The work of constructing and collating this plan was carried out by an expert committee, the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee (the TRRC), spearheaded by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association.

I am very pleased this morning, to be joined by my fellow co-chairs of this illustrious, very hardworking committee:

• Ms. Vernice Walkine, Vice-President, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and CEO & President, Nassau Airport Development Co. Ltd;

• Mr. Stuart Bowe, Immediate Past President, BHTA & Sr. VP and GM Hotel Operations, Atlantis;

• Mr. Robert 'Sandy' Sands, Sr. VP, BHTA and SVP of Government & Community Relations, Baha Mar; and

• Mr. Carlton Russell, President, BHTA & VP Operations, Atlantis.

To create this proposed plan, the TRRC worked alongside public and private sector partners, including:

  •     The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board
  •     The Paradise Island Tourism Development Association
  •     The Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board
  •     The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board
  •     The Nassau Airport Development Company
  •     Nassau Cruise Ports
  •     Association of Bahamas Marinas
  •     Hutchison Ports Bahamas
  •     Grand Bahama Airport Co
  •     Freeport Harbour Co and Freeport Container Port
  •     The Bahamas Ministry of Health
The Committee solicited and received feedback from a wide cross section of tourism industry stakeholders, from airlines and ground transportation companies, to water sports operations and restaurants.

I would like to take this occasion, on behalf of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation and the Bahamas Government, to convey heartfelt thanks, to all of the individuals who contributed their time and expertise to the making of this important document, which is the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan.

Ladies and Gentlemen, like the rest of the world, our nation has been hit by an unprecedented global pandemic that has devastated our economy. Those are stark words, but it is our reality. Our government and its affiliate agencies, supported by the people of The Bahamas, have valiantly fought to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to minimize casualties. Gratefully, our efforts have yielded a very positive outcome. We now prepare to reopen our borders and take initial steps toward gradually recovering our tourism industry which sustains our national economy.

The plan that we unveil today prioritizes, first and foremost, the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. This comprehensive plan lays out best practices, proposes a whole array of new protocols and policy considerations as well as guidance on training, all to be implemented as we move to reopen our tourism industry. This document is the repository of all the essential information we need to manage every aspect of tourism in the era of Covid-19 and beyond.

This plan incorporates the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism marketing and Public Relations Strategies for relaunching tourism; it lays out in minute details the protocols for sanitizing and enforcing social distancing practices in all arenas of the industry, from the airports, seaports, airlines, hotels, home rentals, to taxis, tour buses, jetski operations, stores, restaurants, excursion operations and attractions.

As the 1st of July date approaches for our reopening, we are very hopeful about the future that lies ahead for our tourism industry. We are hopeful for many reasons.

In a travel survey conducted our source market of North America, the United States and Canada, some 83% of consumers indicated that they are eager to travel on vacation. During this time of quarantine, through a creative social media campaign the Ministry of Tourism has kept The Bahamas in front of travel consumers. This high visibility of our destination has increased consumer desire for travel to The Bahamas.

Proximity has always been one of the driving forces of the success of Bahamas tourism, which topped out at seven million plus in 2019. We are strongly persuaded that this fact of geography will also aid us in our recovery.

Coming out of the pandemic, travel consumers will be somewhat timid in their travel plans, opting for domestic vacations over trips to distant lands. Well, hello! The Bahamas is just around the corner; in the perception of U.S. travel consumers, The Bahamas is very much a domestic location.

Reopening will be an exercise in graduated steps.

In the first instance, we will promote our secluded Out Islands, with its rich selection of eco-adventures and divine beaches, all naturally designed for social distancing. There will be heightened focus on our vertical markets of boating, fishing, diving, weddings and honeymoons, and private aviation. Our successful fight against Covid-19 will serve us well, as the World Health Organizations regards The Bahamas as a relatively Covid-free destination.

Going back into the tourism marketplace, we are armed with hope and a tangible, well-researched and superbly laid, comprehensive plan that will guide our initial steps back into fray of tourism competition.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for giving me your undivided attention.



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