Transport costs, shortages create tourism ‘headwinds’

Institute) have certified training programmes ongoing in Andros, but that’s not happening fast enough and the certified programmes need to be expanded beyond Andros. “And, last but not least, and something that we definitely have to address with the project to transform 14 Family Island airports, is the cost of ground transportation. I was talking to one of our members in Long Island, and to travel from Stella Maris to Deadman’s Cay it’s $160 one-way for two people,” he continued.

“From Marsh Harbour to the Green Turtle ferry dock it’s $100 one way for two people in terms of transportation. We somehow have to address that. Even if we cannot lower the cost we have to have visible signage at the airport or on Bahamas.com with these prices so people are not surprised by the cost.

“Another issue I am hearing from the members on Bimini is the harassment of their guests upon arrival by some - not all, only someof the taxi cab drivers trying to get business. That, on Bimini, has to be addressed. These are some of the headwinds based on the feedback from members that I am hearing.”

Mr Fountain also warned that more work is required to solve the same-day connection challenges for persons transiting Lynden

Pindling International Airport (LPIA) as they either head on to their Family Island destination or return from that location to head home.

“As always for us, airlift out of LPIA is a challenge,” he told Tribune Business “It’s not a matter of the number of seats flying from different Family Islands to LPIA. We need to tweak the timing of flights when we have flights coming into Nassau bringing passengers connecting to the Family

Islands. We need to work with our airline partners in The Bahamas to allow sameday connectivity. That’s the lowest hanging fruit right there.”

Voicing confidence that

Promotion Board members will hit their 2023 financial targets (see other article on Page 1B), Mr Fountain said: “We have to have everybody working in sync. It has to involve the Ministry of Tourism doing the heavy lifting internationally and