Posted by: travadmin on Jan 17, 2003 – 02:03 PM
ecotourism As The Bahamas enters 2003 with the threat of war, Bahamas Hotel Association President Barbara Hanna-Cox is calling on Bahamians to preserve its competitive edge in tourism.
By LINDSAY THOMPSON
Nassau Guardian Business Editor
As The Bahamas enters 2003 with the threat of war, Bahamas Hotel Association President Barbara Hanna-Cox is calling on Bahamians to preserve its competitive edge in tourism.
In a statement issued to The Guardian, Mrs. Hanna-Cox recalled the impact Operation Desert Storm (Gulf War 1991) had on the Bahamian tourism industry.
She also expressed deep concern over the prospect of another war between the United States and Iraq, which could have social and economic consequences for The Bahamas.
“After a difficult year of recovery, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) welcomes the current seasonal improvement in business,” Mrs. Hanna-Cox said. “However, this positive situation must be reviewed against disappointing forward bookings being reported by member properties.”
She also called on the nation to bear in mind that the year 2003 approaches with the threat of war on the horizon.
At the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) held in Grand Bahama in October, member countries confronted the challenge of devising a new strategy for saving the economic lifeline of many regional economies.
Due to the catastrophic terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the CTO rescheduled its October conference, with an aim of repositioning the Caribbean as the premier destination of choice.
According to CTO Secretary General Gene Holder, the combination of poor global economic performance and a continuing sense of international insecurity, have conspired to create an environment completely inimical to travel and tourism and a high price has been paid in loss of profits, loss of jobs, loss of revenue, loss of service, inter alia by every business and every sub-sector of the industry.
“Drawing on more recent experiences, we can all recall the difficulties we have experienced over the past year,” Mrs. Hanna-Cox said. “Air arrivals have become more expensive and time consuming. It has required greater effort and more resources to persuade consumers to travel abroad. The fear of terrorism still bedevils our industry and has had an adverse impact on the rate of growth of business to the region.”
The BHA, she said, hopes that all Bahamians, mindful of the difficulties the country faced over the past year, will continue to work toward the improvement of its reputation as “a high quality destination” known and admired for excellence of services and high standards of environmental maintenance.
“Our association will continue to provide avenues for career development for ambitious Bahamians,” Mrs. Hanna-Cox said. “For decades the hotel sector has offered employment and opportunities to fulfill personal ambitions to many thousands of our citizens.
“For us to continue to do so as the pace and on the scale to which we have become accustomed will demand a concerted national effort. So, I call on all Bahamians to renew their commitment in the New Year to do their best to preserve the edge we have over our competitors and make The Bahamas the first choice of the discerning traveler.”