The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Tourism is committed to greater investment and involvement in religious tourism, its director-general saying it aimed to grow the sector’s 10-15 per cent share of the Bahamas’ overall group business.

“We have added to our team; we added more horsepower, and we are making a bigger investment,” said David Johnson.

“We are going to be far more involved than we were before. We have someone dedicated in Grand Bahama, and we have a director also here in Nassau working closely with the religious leaders in the Bahamas, putting more energy, effort, time and money to pursue more leads for group business.”

He added: “I think we have about three major conventions on lock down, and we are short-listed for one. It’s just continuing to build momentum. We are reaping the fruits of having done this now for 10 years, and so business finally repeats and persons are referring others to us. It’s been a good niche for us.”

Mr Johnson estimated that religious tourism represented 10-15 per cent of the Bahamas’ overall group group business.

“I don’t think it’s better than 10 or 15 per cent of group business, but when we were not in that business we got very little of it, so the amount of room nights that it means to us now in terms of incremental business is quite sizeable. It’s not only the big conventions but retreats where they go to smaller properties,” said Mr Johnson.