FREEPORT, Grand Bahamas – Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for the West End and Bimini Constituency, the Honourable Obie Wilchcombe, on Thursday, August 24th forecasted a bright future for Grand Bahama in the tourism sector.
Minister Wilchcombe was on Grand Bahama addressing businesspersons from the Rotary Club of Freeport at a luncheon meeting that also attracted Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Lucaya and the Rotary Club of East Sunrise.
The Tourism Minister said that the public/private sector collaboration in Grand Bahama is better than it has ever been and is getting better with each passing day.
Mr. Wilchcombe further stated that “The presence of higher levels of trust, maturity, and a very clear understanding of the important and necessary role Grand Bahama must play in this process of national development, have bolstered a dual commitment from the leaders in Grand Bahama and the Government to reposition the island as an overwhelming force in the country’s forward thrust.
“There is no single island in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with the range and the scope of diversity than Grand Bahama Island,” he said.
Grand Bahama’s prominence in the light industry is renowned, he added, pointing out that the Freeport Container Port singularly has the potential to broaden the economic platform of the island.
He noted that only one-week prior he had the opportunity to attend a trade show of international distributors held in Miami.
This group, according to the Tourism Minister, will establish a link here in The Bahamas that will open the lines of trade with Central America.
Grand Bahama, Freeport in particular, could very easily emerge as the trading centers for markets of North and Central America, China and even Africa. It was what was envisioned when Freeport was created, he told Rotarians and guests.
Continuing, the Grand Bahama native said, “Grand Bahama will over the next decade see a boom in the tourism inventory and in tourism growth.”
He said that tourism will continue to be the number one industry in the world and that The Bahamas will remain a tourism attraction.
“Our beaches, our proximity, and our security and stability are all positive attributes to the sustainability of the tourism industry.
“The boom/bust years of Grand Bahama’s tourism in my opinion are near over. I say that with a high sense of confidence because Grand Bahama will have a brand and a destination, perhaps unequalled to any in the Caribbean,” he said.
Minister Wilchcombe predicted that Bobby Ginn’s project in West End will bear the same importance to Grand Bahama Island as Sol Kerzner’s Atlantis has had for Paradise Island, New Providence and the entire Bahamas.
He told Rotarians that in Grand Bahama, what many have not taken note of is that several other projects are already in advanced stages in West Grand Bahama.
He drew attention to the Blue Marlin Condominium in Bootle Bay, Seaward in Deadman’s Reef, the Bootle Bay Beach project, and the multi-million dollar expansion underway at Old Bahama Bay.
Focusing on Freeport, the Tourism chief said that the exchange of contracts between Driftwood and the purchasers of the Royal Oasis Resort has given everyone a reason to smile.
He said that story of Driftwood, Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne; and the Lehman Brothers “would certainly be one for the best seller’s list.”
With respect to the Royal Oasis deal, he said that both sides are working towards closure within forty days, after which full details relating to the operations of the hotel and the casino will be disclosed.
“The investors have promised the creation of a new experience encompassing the International Bazaar and Goombay Park,” he said.
He also advised that Mr. Preben Olesen who recently acquired New Hope Holdings and the Port Lucaya Marina and some adjacent property, is set to break ground for the construction of a condo/hotel in Lucaya near the marina.
“What you have not heard is that approval has also been given to the construction of a 250 unit condominium, also for Lucaya,” he said.
Mr. Wilchcombe also pointed out that the film industry in Grand Bahama would certainly be an industry that we should pay close attention to if for no other reason than the large pool that has been built in East End.
“We are now negotiating the making of a movie here in Grand Bahama where some $100 million dollars has already been budgeted,” he informed.
Continuing, the Minister said that the Grand Bahama tourism plant must be of a character unique to this island. He said he feels strongly that each of the 31 inhabited islands of The Bahamas can carve out a uniquely different tourism plant and experiences that could generate a buzz in the market place and robust economic opportunities in each island.
“Grand Bahama,” he said, “is a special place. It has more golf courses than any other island. The fishing flats are superior. Diving is exceptional and there is a history to tell.
“That is why in moving forward here in Grand Bahama, we must be meticulous in our planning and we must be creative in our marketing if we are to realize the true potential of tourism in Grand Bahama,” he said.
Pointing out that at present the island has just over 3,000 hotel rooms; he said that to be competitive, Grand Bahama would need seven to ten thousand hotel rooms over the next decade.
Mr. Wilchcombe also sent out a challenge to businesspersons pointing out that as information technology sweeps the global community, he believes that the island is missing an opportunity to establish an information technology platform.
“Why should we not give consideration to an information technology institution in Grand Bahama where the nation’s brightest converge for training and for the development of hardware and software? Why should we not move with rapid haste to establish a global call centre here in Grand Bahama” he asked, pointing out that the idea speaks to his anxiety to take our country beyond the narrow perception that we have created for ourselves.
Also, he remarked that Grand Bahama and Freeport in particular could become a viable financial centre.
He said that the world must be told of Grand Bahama, and that the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Hutchinson Whampoa, the Government, and the business community must travel the world together to realize this possibility.
Mr. Wilchcombe was also concerned about the poverty level in Grand Bahama as well and the fact that in our country many children are leaving high school barely able to read or write.
He said that we cannot build a country without first building our people.
“We cannot afford to allow only the privilege to dream while the poor and the children of struggling parents are left dreamless and condemned,” he said.
