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'Carve out' tourism from future COVID lockdowns

A "jubilant" Cabinet minister yesterday urged that the tourism industry be "carved out" from future COVID-19 lockdowns after Baha Mar confirmed plans to begin a phased re-opening from December 17.

D'Aguilar likely to let Carnival dock here

THE Bahamas will likely say “yes” to Carnival Cruise Lines stopping at its ports if sailing resumes on August 1 as planned, Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday. Carnival Cruise Line announced plans yesterday to resume

Tourism minister: BPL blackouts 'embarrassing'

The minister of tourism yesterday admitted that the frequent power outages are “very embarrassing” for the industry, and said: “Relief can’t come soon enough.”Dionisio D’Aguilar told Tribune Business that the government is “striving every day” to fix

Compass Point owner ‘completely out of line’

A Cabinet minister yesterday said he will “not be bullied” by the Compass Point owner’s threat to close the resort and put 60 Bahamians out of work, blasting: “He’s completely out of line.”

Time to modernise, D'Aguilar tells Flowers

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has described recent amendments to the Gaming Act as a “happy medium” while calling on one gaming operator to modernise to avoid being negatively impacted by the changes. He was referring to Craig Flowers, FML Gro

National lottery still an option for Bahamas

WHILE the Gaming Board is still considering options for a national lottery, a recommendation on a way forward has not yet been made, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday. The minister said the Gaming Board was mulling over whether the

‘Bring your A game’ for one-runway LPIA

A Cabinet minister yesterday said all stakeholders “must be on our ‘A’ game” to cope with Lynden Pindling International Airport’s (LPIA) imminent reduction to a single runway.

We won’t be letting web shops off unpaid taxes, warns D’Aguilar

THE Minnis administration has no intention of forgiving any of the unpaid taxes owed by gaming operators, according to Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday.

New body to probe air crashes

TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar tabled a bill in the House of Assembly yesterday to create an Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority.

Govt ‘on money’ with $65m Grand Lucayan disposal

The government yesterday hit back at its detractors by arguing it was “on the money” with both the timing and value of its $65m Grand Lucayan deal.

‘Phenomenal’ 16% air arrivals surge for Q1

Bahamian entrepreneurs have been urged to seize the moment and “grab a greater piece of the tourism pie” with projected air arrivals up 16 percent for three of 2019’s first four months.

D’Aguilar: Emergency runway lights ‘all operational’

TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday confirmed emergency lights at all government-owned airport runways are operational.

Bahamas 'underestimated' cruise visitors spending

The Bahamas may have “underestimated” cruise passenger spend in Nassau and Freeport, a Cabinet Minister admitted yesterday, following reports of a 59 percent increase since 2015.

D'Aguilar threatens legal move

MINISTER of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar threatened legal action against a group he alleged had taken possession of a vacant lot next door to his home, a situation which led to a confrontation with his wife and an unidentified man that was shared on social media yesterday.

Minister: FNM 'better managers of economy'

Business confidence is growing because the Free National Movement (FNM) is viewed as “better managers of the economy and the Government’s finances”, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune

New Year's Day goal for vacation rental taxation

THE Government plans to tax the vacation rental business from New Year’s Day 2019, with Airbnb having agreed to collect and remit levies on properties it markets to the Treasury.Dionisio D’Aguilar, pictured (top), minister of tourism and aviation, to

Cat Island airport’s future in balance

THE Minnis administration is reportedly at a “crossroads” over whether it will repair or permanently close the Arthur’s Town, Cat Island airport, Tourism and Aviation minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Public-private-partnership considered for Prince George Wharf management

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said the government considering a public-private-partnership for the day-to-day management of the Prince George Wharf as it eyes the overall improvement of the country’s top cruise port.Responding to ques

'Be more creative to reach cruise ship market'

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday called for Bahamian entrepreneurs to be more “creative” and “aggressive” at penetrating the cruise ship visitor market. Mr D’Aguilar noted cruise visitors represent 75 percent of the annual foreign visito

Lucayan - we’ll hit a home run

The $65m Grand Lucayan deal "is not a cataclysmic event" for the Government's finances, a Cabinet minister argued yesterday, insisting: "We think we've hit a home run."

Sandals praised for action on illness

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday praised the “excellent” mitigation plan implemented by Sandals Royal Bahamian in the wake of reports a gastrointestinal illness has affected scores of the all-inclusive resort’s guests and staff. Speaking

D’Aguilar: Govt won’t move on web shop tax

IN the face of backlash over the government’s proposed tax increase on web shop operators, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the new taxation sliding scale for number houses is “set in stone”.

Plane crash probe could take a year

THE investigation into the North Andros plane crash could take up to a year to complete, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.

Finally - planes will pay to ‘fly Bahamas’

THE government has finally given the go-ahead for aviation chiefs to charge airlines fees for using Bahamian airspace.

D'Aguilar praises Baha Mar for kickstarting tourism

AS Baha Mar celebrates the one year anniversary of its opening, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the resort has been the catalyst for the rejuvenation of the country’s tourism industry.Mr D’Aguilar was once a major critic of Baha Mar and the

Plane hackers’ days numbered

TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said he expects regulations that would restrict a pilot’s ability to classify flights as commercial or leisure to be reviewed and legislated within the “next month or two,” as part of a move to crack down on the deadly practice of “hacking”.

Key US markets up 15% for Easter peak

Tourism bookings from the Bahamas’ key US markets are up 15 per cent for the peak Easter period, a Cabinet minister yesterday urging businesses to “work harder” at exploiting this growth.

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