Nat’l Aviation Plan to Revolutionize Tourism Industry, Says DPM

“It goes without saying that aviation is a critical component in our tourism industry, it is the oxygen that tourism needs. We have a strategy and we are implementing it,” he said.

The primary mandate of the plan is to ensure that all initiatives are aligned with the key priorities for aviation, which are supported by eight broad themes.

the country’s aviation infrastructure at an estimated $260 million.

“The government is using Public Private Partnership approach to provide a solution for a brighter future beyond the current challenges and inefficiencies within the Family Island airports,” the deputy prime minister said.

direction over the next three years, 2023–2026, and intended to revolutionize the aviation industry to meet and exceed global standards.

The plan also highlights areas which will help deliver the government’s commitment to industry growth, modernization, sustainability, and innovation, and includes a short to medium “flight plan” of clear deliverables, timelines, accountability, capacity building and strategic synergies to achieve this goal.

In this vein, the government has launched a request for proposals for the development of 14 Family Island airports that will transform traffic; to cross roads at designated points; to increase visibility by wearing brightly coloured clothing at night; to not run across roads; and to not play near on on roadways.

He addressed concerns over increase in user fees in the Family Islands. And noted, what has not been said is that taxpayers are subsidizing the Family Island airports for almost $13 million a year, whether those airports are in use or not.

“Let me first say that what we are going to do with Family Island airports has never been done in the history of this country. This will revolutionize aviation and bring a significant boost to our Family Islands” the deputy prime minister said.

“Our country cannot afford to continue to record the number of road traffic fatalities we are experiencing. We are losing far too many of our young people,” said

‘Slow Down, Stay Alive’ will be led by a National Road Safety Council comprised of professionals from the Ministry of Transport & Housing; Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation; Ministry of Education, Vocational & Technical Training; Ministry of Health & Wellness; Ministry of Public

Works & Utilities, The Royal Bahamas Police Force; The Road Traffic Department and the Department of Local Government.

“The Council will work in conjunction with the Road Traffic Department and will have primary responsibility for road safety campaigns and initiatives in the Bahamas,” said Minister Campbell. “The Council will also work to establish local, regional and international partnerships to improve cooperation, enhance networking and exchange best practices.”

He said that March, has been designated ‘Road Safety month’ and several activities have been planned to promote road safety throughout the country. Those include: Road Safety Awareness Visibility Day; the release of a video documentary on road safety and a virtual music and road safety awareness rally on the radio stations of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas.

The Ministry will also launch, ‘Heads Up, Phones Down,’ a road safety outreach initiative targeting students and teens. This initiative, he said, will involve partnerships between the Ministry of Transport & Housing with schools, colleges and youth organizations throughout the country.