The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’s top organiser said yesterday that the event would likely create a significant boost for Nassau/Paradise Island hotel occupancies during a traditionally slow period for the sector.

Paul Major, chairman of the Bahamas National Festival Commission, charged that the existing Junkanoo model creates no economic benefits, and does not draw extra tourists to the Bahamas.

He argued that the hotels were typically full during the Christmas and New Year periods, meanig there was little scope to draw extra visitors and spending.

Mr Major, who gave a presentation to the Rotary Club of West Nassau, told Tribune Business: “It’s a net expense to the Government, to the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, the groups and the participants.

“The model has no economic benefits. I have the moral authority to say that, having been been involved in Junkanoo and having been on the Junkanoo Committee. It doesn’t bring any incremental tourists here because the hotels are full anyway in the winter.

“To have a Junkanoo Carnival in May when the hotels are empty, and put the junkanooers to work when they would be idle, makes all the sense in the world to me.”

    Mr Major added: “We are giving the tourists something to come here and do in May. We have 25,000 people sitting out on those ships, crew and passengers every weekend, and the farthest they walk is to Junkanoo Beach and back. Every stop they make has the same beach, so the question is what are we really selling.

“We know that Baha Mar will bring a few thousand rooms on stream by April. We have an additional 8,000-9,000 rooms on the island, most of which will be empty by May. We can now put those junkanooers to work to sell to the incremental tourists who will be coming here. Anyone who wants to make money during this week long period can, and there will be millions of dollars spent.

Mr Major said the Government was pumping roughly $9 million into the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival event, while organisers were looking to raise about $4 million in ticket sales and sponsorships.

“We are looking to spend about $9 million, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. We are  looking to raise about $4 million in ticket sales and sponsorships,” he added.

“We are looking at a GDP impact of close to $30 million. In 2016 I think that number will improve, and in 2017 I think those number will improve even more.

“We are looking at adding an event to the Bahamian cultural calendar that would allow Bahamians and tourists to be able to participate rather than spectate.”

Mr Major pointed out that the Trinidadian government spends $70 million to promote its carnival and, while receiving no direct cash infusion in return, benefited from the increased economic activity and tax spin-offs that the event generated.

“We have to think a little bigger than we have been thinking,” said Mr Major.

    Responding to criticisms of the event and the behavior many believe it could promote, Mr Major said it was an “undeserving indictment” to suggest the Bahamians would not be able to conduct themselves in a carnival-type environment.

“I think it is undeserving indictment to say that Bahamians can’t conduct themselves in a festive atmosphere such as a carnival. That just doesn’t compute for me. I don’t think that that is good commentary on us as a people,” he added.