The country’s pillar industry opened the year in reflection with the first ever National Tourism Conference. The event was aimed at bringing all tourism stockholders together from hotel operators to straw vendors to discuss the tourism products and give ideas for improvement.
The Ministry also attempted to rekindle the excitement of workers in the industry through a domestic campaign under the theme, “Do more in 2004”. The campaign came complete with a theme song but little was heard from it beyond its February launch.
As The Bahamas moved into 2004, it appeared that this would be a banner year for tourism. Hotel properties were reporting the highest occupancy levels since September 2001.
The excitement felt locally over the growth in tourism seemed to extend internationally as investors either increased or sought out tourism developments throughout the archipelago.
Among the resort developments, the planned $40 million development for Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera and $90 million for Rum Cay, respectively. The Heads of Agreement for both of these developments were signed in March.
Even the Moon expressed interest in The Bahamas. Michael Henderson, creators of Moon Bahamas signed a Memorandum of Understanding with both the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Ministry of Financial Services and Investment to build a futuristic resort in the waters of Grand Bahama.
Even the long talk about Cable Beach redevelopment appeared to have garnered some steam. Baha Mar Development Ltd, a consortium of U.S. and European investors announced signing a purchase agreement in October, to acquire the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Nassau Beach Hotel from hotel mogul, Philip Ruffin.
Added to the attention received from resort developers was the slew of international carriers choosing to expand their list of destinations to include the islands of The Bahamas.
It started off with legacy carriers such as Continental Airlines and American Airlines expanding their services to the Family Islands of Cat Island, Eleuthera and Exuma.
But before long there were services from leading U.S. low cost carriers such as Jet Blue, Delta Song and the anticipated Spirit Airlines set to begin in two weeks.
Going into the final quarter for the year, visitor arrival was on the increase, with the Central Bank reporting growth of 12.3 per cent for the first three quarters of 2004.
Then catastrophe struck. In September, The Bahamas suffered the brunt of two of the costliest hurricanes in recent history, Frances and Jeanne.
The slowest month for tourism in the country was even slower as major hotels throughout the islands closed for renovations and repairs following the passage of the hurricanes.
Club Med in San Salvador, Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa and Sheraton and Westin at Our Lucaya all closed briefly but reopened in time for the winter season.
In a television interview in late October, Director General of Tourism, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace revealed that before the setback of the hurricanes, The Bahamas was on track to welcoming a record setting 5 million visitors.
Down but not out, in November the industry began its comeback egged on by the international exposure provided by the premiere of “After the Sunset” shot on New Providence in 2003 and the first annual Bahamas International Film Festival.
The final bang was the refocused Atlantis, Paradise Island Phase III project and the soft opening of the 345-room RIU Hotel.
The Phase III amendments replaced the previously planned 1,500-room hotel with a 600-room all suite hotel and a 400-unit condo hotel. The amended development pushed the projected investment expected from the Phase III project over $1 billion. Kerzner International also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Atlantis, Paradise Island in May.
This year also saw Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe passing the Chairmanship of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation to Pamela Richards of the Virgin Islands.
Martella Matthews, The Nassau Guardian
December 31, 2004
