The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The deputy prime minister yesterday hailed the arrival of the world’s largest cruise ship in Nassau as epitomising “what a good partnership is supposed to look like”.

Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investments and aviation, speaking at the inaugural arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in Nassau, said: “The Bahamian people are thrilled about the impact of the Wonder of the Seas. This trip also features two days in our destination, one in Nassau and one at Perfect Day at Coco Cay amid this seven-day cruise.”

“With more than 300 destinations around the world, The Bahamas remains one of the best ports of call for passengers, and that can provide another opportunity for growth in our relationship for tourism arrivals and, indirectly, more jobs and opportunities for families,” he added.

“2019 was the last full year of tourism arrivals before the pandemic. We welcomed 5.4m [cruise] visitors whose spending injected in the range of $125m into our economy. Royal Caribbean, along with its subsidiaries, provided 34 percent, approximately 1.84m cruise passengers, to The Bahamas. What is significant about that number is that they arrived at The Bahamas as the first port of call, and that their guests are still very energetic and they still have a lot of money in their pocket to spend

“In 2021, our cruise visitor arrivals totalled 1.21m, with Royal Caribbean and its subsidiaries bringing in 526,000, or approximately 47 percent, of cruise travellers to our shores as their first port of entry. This tells me that before the pandemic, it was 34 percent, and now it is 47 percent. That tells me that, at the port of Nassau, Royal Caribbean’s rebound is faster than the rest of the industry,” Mr Cooper.

“We can confidently say that The Bahamas’ tourism is rebounding, and rebounding faster than the rest of the region. With the incredible and newest, largest cruise ship, you will undoubtedly reach historic occupancy levels into an economic boost.”

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean’s president and chief executive, yesterday said the cruise line did not submit a new bid for the Grand Lucayan resort during the latest sales process initiated by the Government. The cruise line and its then-partner, ITM Group, mutually agreed with the Government to cease pursuit of their pre-pandemic deal late last year.

Mr Bayley indicated that Royal Caribbean is pursuing a different project, thought to be the redevelopment of Freeport Harbour, which it has long been negotiating with Freeport Harbour Company and its controlling shareholder, Hutchison Whampoa.