The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday said industry bookings for the July 4 US Independence weekend were “very robust”, but Family Island properties did not fare so well.

Robert Sands told Tribune Business that “bookings are very robust”, and that this year appeared “stronger” than previous ones in terms of the US Independence Day holiday bookings. “We’re very happy that we’re coming off of both the US Independence and going into Bahamian Independence over this period. It is very strong,” he added.

The remainder of the summer looks strong, and Mr Sands said: “The only thing that could put this in any jeopardy is if we run into any road blocks or headwinds in terms of hurricanes or impediments like that, but nothing else.”

However, Cheryl Bastian, owner/operator of Swain’s Cay Lodge in Andros, said it had no guests over the US Independence holiday because of its focus on fly fishing anglers.

“We’re looking to attract the eco-tourists, but it’s been pretty slow as it usually is for this time of year without storms, and with the rain and the lack of activity in this area,” she said.

She argued that The Bahamas needs to provide more special events and activities to attract visitors so that arrivals remain consistent and stable throughout the year.

Ms Bastian said: “You might have heard about these clusters that we launched for the whole island, where we can come together with regard to community-based tourism and build other activities for the visitors to be involved in.

“But not a lot of that goes on in the underdeveloped islands. You would find community-based tourism on islands like Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama and Abaco, but not so much in Andros and some of our southern islands, which after this model is completed we are hoping it moves to the other islands to do the same thing..”

“But we were practically zero for July 4. We had one family in and they were doing their own thing.” Gregory Vogt, general manager of the Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort and Villa, also said US Independence Day bookings were weak as well. “We didn’t have anything special going on for July 4 at all,” he added.