The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is projected to lose nearly $2m in cruise ship cancellations, with tourism officials yesterday stating that all major cruises due to call into Bahamian ports have already been re-routed due to Hurricane Matthew.

Geneva Cooper, senior director of hotel licensing, said officials at the Ministry of Tourism estimate roughly $1.8m in lost revenue, as she announced that all cruise lines due to arrive in the country have been diverted to “other destinations” in anticipation of the category four storm.

The Port of Nassau closed at noon yesterday, and will be reopened at a later date by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), according to Mrs Cooper.

She said figures representing Hurricane Matthew’s impact on hotel reservations will be provided within the next few days.

Additionally, Mrs Cooper said approximately 1,600 guests were due to be evacuated from Grand Bahama on Tuesday. She said the airport in Grand Bahama closes at noon Wednesday and reopens on Saturday at 6am.

She said that as of yesterday another 3,000-plus visitors were currently located in New Providence and on Paradise Island. However, she said that officials expect that number to diminish during the remainder of the week. Nonetheless, Mrs Cooper said, the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) will close today at 11am.

According to Mrs Cooper, an additional 593 visitors are scattered throughout the Family Islands – 400 in the Exumas, 153 in Bimini, 21 on San Salvador, eight on the Berry Islands, seven on Abaco, two on Eleuthera and two on North Andros.

She said arrangements have been made in all of those islands to evacuate visitors seeking to return to their home countries. However, she said, “every measure” is being taken by hotels and tourism offices throughout the country to ensure the safety and security of those who wish to stay.

The airports in Mathew Town, Inagua; Duncan Town, Ragged Island; Spring Point, Acklins; Colonel Hill, Crooked Island; Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana; Deadman’s Cay, Long Island; and Samana Cay, would have all been closed by 10pm yesterday, according to Mrs Cooper.

“As we prepare to face the impending hurricane, what is of critical importance to us is the safety of our residents and visitors,” she said. “We are praying for the best outcome, and once the ‘all-clear’ is given, we will turn our attention to assisting with recovery efforts, if necessary, and also to sending the message to the world that The Bahamas is once again open for business.”

Mrs Cooper also said the Ministry of Tourism is prepared to tackle whatever adversities that might be presented with the arrival of Hurricane Matthew.

Just like last year during Hurricane Joaquin, she said, a Command Centre has been established by the ministry at the British Colonial Hilton to allow officials to monitor the storm and the safety of tourists throughout the islands.

Additionally, she said, all hotels and resorts throughout the country have activated their hurricane programmes and are “taking all necessary precautions to protect visitors and residents”.