Caribbean diaspora key to austainable future of tourism

THE Bahamas’ Director of Investments, Phylicia Hanna, says the Caribbean Diaspora has a key role to play in the future of tourism, the number one industry in most of the countries in the region. By expanding their reach from the United States to countries like the Bahamas, she believes, Diasporans could increase their wealth while supporting the natives in their homeland.

Her sentiments were echoed by a number of top tourism officials from around the Caribbean, who recently spoke at the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers 27th annual International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit & Trade Show and the 10th annual International Multicultural & Heritage Tourism Summit & Trade Show, held at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay.

Hanna spoke in her capacity as Director of Investments, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Aviation & Investment on a panel attended by scores of hotel owners and potential investors attending the conferences.

Fellow panelists included: Minister of Tourism for Anguilla Hayden Hughes; Simone Bell, Investment and Innovation Specialist, Belize Tourism Board; and Salik Garland, Invest Turks and Caicos Islands. The panel was moderated by Roland Andy Burrows, Investment Consultant, Bahamas Investment Authority.

The theme: “The Time is Right for Investments” was a timely one, they felt, because tourism is seeing an uptick since the COVID-19 pandemic, and because Caribbean governments are providing considerable support to ensure the success of investment ventures.

Speaking on why The Bahamas is a perfect destination worth investing in, Hanna said: “It’s Better in the Bahamas!