Travel giant Sunwing has officially made its newest flight to Grand Bahama.
The new flight from Houston, Texas arrived with 189 visitors last week.
It was welcomed by a delegation including Bahamas Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe and Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville.
Tourism officials said they anticipated that the new route would bring tourists to the island from as many as eight US cities.
Texas is apparently a growing market for Bahamian tourism, officials said.
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Showing posts with label Obie Wilchcombe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obie Wilchcombe. Show all posts
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Saturday, 14 November 2015
BAHAMAS: Bahamas In 7m Tourist Target
TOURISM officials yesterday said they are hoping to attract a “routine arrival” of cruise ships to the southern Bahamas, as they bid to increase annual visitor numbers to a total of seven million.
Speaking with Tribune Business at a ceremony in Chester’s, Acklins, to mark the arrival of more than 100 passengers aboard the luxury cruise liner, Noble Caledonian Island Sky, Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, said such visits could spark tremendous economic benefits for Family Island economies.
The Island Sky set sail from Miami, and is now on a 14-day itinerary through the northern Caribbean and the Bahamas. The majority of its passengers are European, with some from Australia.
“There is a natural beauty to Acklins. There was an event here a couple months ago, and now they’re coming back,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
“What we want to do is try and cause for a routine visit here, whether it’s once a quarter or once every month or every two months; something to help generate economic activity. Most of the islands are empty because people have left in search of activity. We we have to find ways to generate economic growth and development.”
He added: “One visit could mean a tremendous economic benefit to the island. If we could cause a routine arrival of cruise ships between the southern Bahamas and southern countries, we would be in great shape.”
Speaking to expectations for cruise arrivals this year, Mr Wilchcombe said: “In so far as cruise arrivals are concerned, we’re up again. It’s continuing to grow. We have seen Norwegian Cruise Lines add a new vessel, travelling between Nassau and Miami. We expect a very good year for sea arrivals.”
Regarding air arrivals, Mr Wilchcombe said: “Air arrivals are looking good for this year. We knew last year it would be a bad year, but already we’re already off to a good start.
“Grand Bahama is already up by 5,000 visitors for the month of January. We’re not going to be satisfied until we get to the seven million mark.”
Speaking with Tribune Business at a ceremony in Chester’s, Acklins, to mark the arrival of more than 100 passengers aboard the luxury cruise liner, Noble Caledonian Island Sky, Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, said such visits could spark tremendous economic benefits for Family Island economies.
The Island Sky set sail from Miami, and is now on a 14-day itinerary through the northern Caribbean and the Bahamas. The majority of its passengers are European, with some from Australia.
“There is a natural beauty to Acklins. There was an event here a couple months ago, and now they’re coming back,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
“What we want to do is try and cause for a routine visit here, whether it’s once a quarter or once every month or every two months; something to help generate economic activity. Most of the islands are empty because people have left in search of activity. We we have to find ways to generate economic growth and development.”
He added: “One visit could mean a tremendous economic benefit to the island. If we could cause a routine arrival of cruise ships between the southern Bahamas and southern countries, we would be in great shape.”
Speaking to expectations for cruise arrivals this year, Mr Wilchcombe said: “In so far as cruise arrivals are concerned, we’re up again. It’s continuing to grow. We have seen Norwegian Cruise Lines add a new vessel, travelling between Nassau and Miami. We expect a very good year for sea arrivals.”
Regarding air arrivals, Mr Wilchcombe said: “Air arrivals are looking good for this year. We knew last year it would be a bad year, but already we’re already off to a good start.
“Grand Bahama is already up by 5,000 visitors for the month of January. We’re not going to be satisfied until we get to the seven million mark.”
BAHAMAS: Pitch Your Tourism Idea
Obie Wilchcombe, Tourism Minister
THE government will extend an invitation for Bahamians to pitch new tourism products to the cruise industry next month, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday.
As the Nassau port welcomed another major cruise line yesterday, Mr Wilchcombe underscored the increased demand for a wider offering to lure tourists off cruise ships to spend more in the Bahamas’ economy.
He added that major renovations were scheduled for Festival Place at Prince George Dock.
“If you look at these vessels you will see that all of them are getting bigger and bigger and they carry more and more people,” said Mr Wilchcombe. We’ve got to get more of our visitors off the vessel because if you look at the spend that’s where my difficulty is. If there are millions of visitors and they are spending an average of $60-$80, that’s not enough. We want to get more spend which means there’s a demand on Bahamians to create more tours, more activity, to ensure that we have night life.”
During the inaugural ceremony of the Norwegian Breakaway, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe announced that construction to the Welcome Centre at Prince George Dock will begin at the end of the month.
Displaced vendors will line the Prince George Wharf under colourful cabanas, Mr Wilchcombe said, adding that the expansion will offer greater opportunities.
Works are expected to span over a nine-month period.
“It’s just too small,” said Mr Wilchcombe, “at one point we thought we’d be able to do about one million and a half visitors, but don’t forget we’re doing almost five million cruise visitors. Yesterday, we had five vessels in port, on any given day that’s 23,000 people. It’s too tight, we have to broaden it a bit and create greater appeal.”
“During the Christmas festival,” he said, “you’re going to see that entire stretch filled with vendors. In the night time, we’re going to use Pompey Square, and use that period to focus on some of the entertainers that have passed on.
“The cruise lines want more so we have to reach out and get Bahamians to provide more,” he added.
Norwegian Breakaway features 29 dining options, including restaurants from Food Network Star and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, and Master Baker Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss”; three Broadway shows; an ice bar; a weekly fireworks show at sea; and the largest Aqua Park and ropes course at sea, including five water slides.
From her berth at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal in Manhattan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest vessel will make seven-night cruises to Bermuda, May through September, and seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and Florida, October through April.
As the Nassau port welcomed another major cruise line yesterday, Mr Wilchcombe underscored the increased demand for a wider offering to lure tourists off cruise ships to spend more in the Bahamas’ economy.
He added that major renovations were scheduled for Festival Place at Prince George Dock.
“If you look at these vessels you will see that all of them are getting bigger and bigger and they carry more and more people,” said Mr Wilchcombe. We’ve got to get more of our visitors off the vessel because if you look at the spend that’s where my difficulty is. If there are millions of visitors and they are spending an average of $60-$80, that’s not enough. We want to get more spend which means there’s a demand on Bahamians to create more tours, more activity, to ensure that we have night life.”
During the inaugural ceremony of the Norwegian Breakaway, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe announced that construction to the Welcome Centre at Prince George Dock will begin at the end of the month.
Displaced vendors will line the Prince George Wharf under colourful cabanas, Mr Wilchcombe said, adding that the expansion will offer greater opportunities.
Works are expected to span over a nine-month period.
“It’s just too small,” said Mr Wilchcombe, “at one point we thought we’d be able to do about one million and a half visitors, but don’t forget we’re doing almost five million cruise visitors. Yesterday, we had five vessels in port, on any given day that’s 23,000 people. It’s too tight, we have to broaden it a bit and create greater appeal.”
“During the Christmas festival,” he said, “you’re going to see that entire stretch filled with vendors. In the night time, we’re going to use Pompey Square, and use that period to focus on some of the entertainers that have passed on.
“The cruise lines want more so we have to reach out and get Bahamians to provide more,” he added.
Norwegian Breakaway features 29 dining options, including restaurants from Food Network Star and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, and Master Baker Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss”; three Broadway shows; an ice bar; a weekly fireworks show at sea; and the largest Aqua Park and ropes course at sea, including five water slides.
From her berth at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal in Manhattan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest vessel will make seven-night cruises to Bermuda, May through September, and seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and Florida, October through April.
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