Local hoteliers remain concerned about conditions at Nassau International Airport, according to J. Barrie Farrington, the Atlantis executive who heads The Bahamas Hotel Employers Association.
“One of the things which we need to get done and which we want to work with the government on is improving the Nassau International Airport,’ he said.
“We recognize that there are some constraints and there are things that could be done to speed up security for people going through US Customs and Immigration and into the departure lounge. We have been getting quite a number of substantial complaints, but it is one of our expectations that we are going to find the remedy for that problem and have the departure problem improve.’
During the announcement by Kerzner International in early December regarding adjustments to plans for the third phase of Atlantis, Prime Minister Perry Christie assured that the government was moving to improve the airport.
This assurance came more than a year after Kerzner´s Chairman Sol Kerzner dubbed it one of the worst airports in the world.
Mr. Farrington, in his New Year´s interview with the Bahama Journal, also said despite the hiccups experienced by some hoteliers in 2004, this year is expected to be more fruitful as a number of projects come on stream that will help boost the tourism industry.
The tourism industry suffered a blow as a result of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Mr. Farrington pointed out that Kerzner International´s Atlantis phase three expansion will exceed $1 billion and is expected to create at least 3,000 permanent jobs for Bahamians upon completion and thousands of other jobs during the construction period this year that will help to create a more a robust economy.
Officials of the Association are also hoping for a rebirth of the Cable Beach Strip.
“It is essential that something happens with our product in the Cable Beach area as it is not what it needs to be,’ Mr. Farrington said. “I think it is recognized by many people in the country as a situation that needs to be remedied, but investments and enhancement of the product will give an added lift in what we offer to tourists.’
He also said he was impressed with renovations made by RIU owners to the former Sheraton Hotel on Paradise Island.
“I think they have done an outstanding job because renovations and improvements made are of very high quality,’ Mr. Farrington said. “They now have good response from their clientele, and that is what we want every resort to be, successful.’
The Four Seasons Resort on Exuma is also doing very well with daily airlifts to the island from carriers like American Airlines, Continental, Bahamasair and US Air, he noted.
The occupancy level at Four Seasons “is good so far and the general manager of the resort said in February, March, April they will enjoy very high occupancy.’
Mr. Farrington also noted that through October overall growth in tourism in air and sea arrivals was 11.6 percent greater than 2003 despite the decrease in tourism numbers in Grand Bahama and some of the other islands.
“As I indicated a lot of time can be spent looking at what has gone wrong, but I think however as we survey the landscape of tourism the fact of the matter is we are showing some improvement in air and sea arrivals, which of course is creating some economic activity that will enhance the quality of life in the country in particular for those persons who are working within the tourism industry,’ he said.
Royanne Forbes, The Bahama Journal
