By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Director General Latia Duncombe said work is being done to encourage cruise passengers to spend money at local spots downtown, not just the Nassau Cruise Port (NCP).
During the Prime Minister Press conference last week she made her comments after straw vendors told The Tribune on Tuesday that low sales have already got worse since the cruise port opened. Vendors within the cruise port said business has got better for them.
Ms Duncombe acknowledged concerns about guest traffic and people visiting more of the island.
She said the Ministry of Tourism has discussed getting visitors to explore areas to book tours or excursions with cruise lines.
“We’re doing everything that we can working along with the board, working along with the Downtown revitalization team to make sure that we get more traffic and see what can be done to improve the flow to make sure that more visitors can benefit,” she said.
Several straw vendors complained about a long fence extending from one of the port’s entries at the cruise port opposite the straw market. Vendors said this fence makes it harder for guests to access their market and encourages them to stay in the cruise port.
Ms Duncombe countered that many tourists do not spend all their time in the port and that some do venture downtown. She said she would meet members of the Tourism Development Corporation and Rebecca Small, president of the Straw Business Persons Society, to discuss the issues.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Lol. Wait till Royal Caribbean opens their getaway stayaway from Nassau package. #visionless
bahamianson 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Getring more people on Bay Street is like putting a xress on a pig,,,, why? Bay Street by any other name is a DUMP! The shops are boring and piss is everywhere.
Porcupine 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Obviously, our tourism leaders are a bit behind, in every way, shape and form from those in the cruise ship industry. They are both vying for scarce dollars. One is highly educated and experienced in the industry, and the other a politically appointed person with little real-world experience. And yes, Bay Street is a dump.
truetruebahamian 2 months, 3 weeks ago
This was obvious from the inception of the cruise port. Firstly the cruise passengers are prompted to buy from the cruise companies ships and private island destinations, secondly those who deboard the ships for the short time that they are in Nassau will spend in the closest newest eyecatcher, the cruise port. The town of Nassau and its business establishments would be further strangled by the cruise port shops. These passengers are not the quality visitors that we once enjoyed in the 1950s and1960s . We have lost any advantage once gained by hard work and unique experiences once offered as the passengers of today are theme park oriented and are incapable of appreciating quality and diversity.
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