The Ministry of Tourism is disseminating a more precise evaluation of the large resorts and tourist centres, as some potential visitors are already starting to clamour for news about the kind of damage that Hurricane Frances left behind.
A large majority of the hotels sustained minimal hurricane damage, according to the damage assessment forms that many of the large hotel properties submitted.
That kind of information is critically important to this tourism driven economy and is being circulated abroad.
Tourism officials this week were giving a largely upbeat picture of how The Bahamas fared and have posted a report on the Bahamas.com website that says tourism here is back on track, except for Grand Bahama.
モOverall, tourism facilities in The Islands Of The Bahamas fared better than anticipated from the recent visit of Hurricane Frances,メ reported tourism officials. モWith the exception of Grand Bahama Island, most islands in the 700 island nation sustained minimal property damage.メ
Resorts in the leading tourism centre of Nassau and Paradise Island were fully operational within a week of the hurricane, including the Atlantis Paradise Island, British Colonial Hilton, Radisson Cable Beach and Wyndham Nassau resorts.
Kerzner International, which operates Atlantis, has already reported a $10 to $12 million cost incurred because of Hurricane Frances.
The Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort on Cable Beach has to complete cosmetic repairs to hotel rooms, the roof and pool and beach facilities which could run the all-inclusive property into millions of dollars.
モEverything is being done to repair the damage with a view to reopening the hotel by September 25,メ Sandals Chairman Gordon Butch Stewart said in a press statement.
The 284 guests who were staying at the property had accepted the hotelᄡs offer to continue their vacations at other Sandals properties around the Caribbean.
The rival Superclubs Breezes Resort is also closed for repairs and its executives have given a September 30 date for re-opening.
Elsewhere, in the Out Islands of Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, Exuma, Bimini, Andros and Abaco, officials have reported minimal property damage, with most tourism facilities returning to normal service and accepting reservations.
モIn everything that we do we want to be sure that we collect all the correct information and even though we may not have all of our rooms back, all the infrastructure back, we are concerned that most of it will be back in an acceptable condition to sell so that we can begin to go back out and tell the world that The Bahamas is open for sale even though it wouldnᄡt be 100 percent as yet,メ the Director General of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool Wallace said.
Prime Minister Perry Christie has commandeered Mr. Vanderpool- Wallace to coordinate hurricane relief contributions from outside tourism partners and the private sector.
Evidence of the Hurricane Francesᄡ wrath still lingers in New Providence, although the island escaped with relatively minimal damage. Withered and tattered trees and vegetation still lay strewn across various properties, along one main coastal thoroughfare major roadways are dotted with large sinkholes and men were on rooftops replacing the shingles that had been blown away.
Grand Bahamaᄡs devastation is far worse. By all accounts, the island was hit the hardest with whole neighbourhoods in the west and east ravaged. Only minimal utilities are restored and the infrastructure and properties have been severely damaged.
In the capital city of Freeport, the Best Western Castaways Resort is fully operational, according to the new tourism report, which is being circulated abroad.
The Grand Bahama International Airport remains closed until power is restored. Authorities are only allowing emergency flights and limited traffic.
Grappling with significant damage, The Sheraton at Our Lucaya has indicated that it will re-open on October 1 and the Westin at Our Lucaya has signalled a November 1 re-opening date.
Assessments were still pending for the Royal Oasis Golf Resort & Casino, Pelican Bay Hotel and the Old Bahama Bay Resort.
Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal