Abaco Tourist Office

March 2000 Table of Contents

ABACO TOURIST OFFICE UPDATE
by Wynsome Ferguson

The Abaco Tourist Office is proud to announce that local entrepreneur Lois Albury and renown Bahamian artist Alton Lowe were among the winners at the Cacique awards on 16th January. While neither recipient was able to attend, it was a crowning moment as their achievement showcased the talent indigenous of Abaco.

A National Bonefish Council has been formed jointly between the Out Islands Promotion Board and the Ministry of Tourism to address many concerns of the bonefish industry. Many Bahamians, particularly Abaconians, benefit from this thriving industry. However, abuse and misuse of the flats is a major concern. The Council comprises bonefish experts, guides, lodge owners and technocrats from the Ministry. A certificate programme for all bonefishermen is being designed for implementation before the end of 2000. The Council is proposing to regulate the industry through legislation being drafted for adoption by the Department of Fisheries. An appeal is being made to the minister responsible for fisheries to deputise wardens with immediate effect to monitor and police fishing flats in major areas in lieu of pending legislation. Patrick Roberts of Sandy Point has been nominated to represent Abaco. An officer of the Abaco Tourist Office will also represent Abaco at meetings of the Council.

The Abaco Tourist Office will facilitate the formation of a local bonefish association among lodges and guides in the Abacos. Meetings will be held throughout Abaco over the next two weeks to encourage such an association and to apprise guides and lodges of pending legislation and certification.

A small hotels training seminar is planned for the Abacos during the period 29th February - 2nd March. This programme is jointly sponsored by the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board and the Ministry of Tourism. The purpose of this training seminar is to assist small hotel operators in areas of technical need such as:
Proper processing of hotel tax and levy forms.
Working with tour operators.
Enhancing technology (website, e-mail, reservation systems).
Identifying staff training needs.
The importance of promotional material, overall product enhancement.
This programme is designed to meet the objectives of the Small Hotels International standards set under the Organisation of American States programme. An assessment of our small hotels in The Bahamas has revealed that we are lagging in technological standards from an international perspective. All hotels, resorts, local government officials including councils, town committees, hotel licensing boards and tourism advisory committees in particular will be invited to share in this seminar.

The Ministry of Tourism joined the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board in Miami 19th-20th January to share ideas on how to enhance the tourism product in the Out Islands. Managers from the Bahamas Tourist Offices in Abaco, Exuma, Andros and Eleuthera attended. Craig Woods, General Manager Out Islands, and Barbara Koch, Manager Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board, chaired the meeting. Nettica Symonette, President of the Promotion Board and Antoinette Davis, Senior Manager Northern Bahamas, along with Jacqueline Ramsey, Manager Small Hotels Division of the Ministry of Tourism, also attended. The meeting was an opportunity for Out Island managers to report on the status of the industry in their respective islands and to share concerns and areas requiring attention. Managers took the opportunity to share some of the exciting activities planned for their island. Chief among the concerns for Abaco, which were articulated by Don Cornish, are:
Encourage management of garbage disposal facilities through collaboration with the relevant authorities to eliminate eyesore and minimise risk of disease; work with the relevant authorities to sensitise them to the need to regulate the proliferation of backyard and roadside garages, and to recommend designated light industry zones for such operations. related to this is the indiscriminate dumping and waste disposal.
Seek to address the large number of forest fires which, it is believed, are connected to indiscriminate burning largely by hunters and other irresponsible citizens. Our office will recommend that forestry officers be reappointed for the Abacos to monitor our valuable natural resources. These fires attack habitats of indigenous birds and other land dwelling wildlife and consequently endanger their existence, particularly of the Bahama parrot.
Encourage greater interaction and dialogue between local government officials and the Ministry of Tourism Office. If local officials appreciate the objectives of the Ministry, the product can only benefit.
Beautification and clean-up should become a greater focus and the goal of our office is an attempt to improve the natural environment as it relates to industry facilities, public and private buildings and facilities in the various Abaco districts. The goal is to remove the blight of the recent hurricane season and improve the aesthetics of the Abacos in the process. Particular emphasis will be placed on ports of entry to have authorities clean up public beaches, grounds and parks.
Harbour pollution is a vexing problem, particularly in Marsh Harbour and Green Turtle Cay. Boaters should be required to stop off at proper waste holding tanks, facilities bordering the harbour would be discouraged, and methods to oxygenise the harbours will be employed.
Lighting of waterways and channels require immediate attention
The safety and security of visitors to our shores is also a goal of our office and Marinas, hotels and restaurants will be encouraged to offer periodic surveillance of their premises by security personnel.
Efforts are continuing to ensure that all hotel premises are in compliance with required standards and are fully licensed.

A proposal to have Abaco as the host island for the 2000 World Bonefish Championships is being presented by Nettica Symonette. If successful, coordination of the event will be shared between the Out Islands Promotion Board and the Abaco Tourist Office.

The Abaco Tourist Office intends to place greater emphasis on the promotion of our indigenous culture. We will continue to encourage the construction of native marketplaces in Treasure Cay and Marsh Harbour for the sale of native craft and food to visitors, and to showcase local dramatic and musical talent. It is hoped that the business community and private individuals will support the effort.

The Abaco Tourist Office conducted the assessment of hotels, marinas and other tourist-related establishments in Abaco since the repairs and reconstruction of Hurricane Floyd damage 31st January - 5th February. The reconstruction of hotels is coming along very well and great improvements have been made to bring their product to a much higher standard. The Abaco Inn, Bluff House and Green Turtle Club on Green Turtle Cay have done an excellent job to enhance their property as a result of repairs since Hurricane Floyd.

Repairs to marinas in Abaco are coming along very slowly. Presently marinas in Abaco that have not opened are: Hope Town Hideaways, Club Soleil, Abaco Beach Resort, Triple J Marina, Green Turtle Club, Bluff House Marina, Guana Beach Resort Marina and Spanish Cay Marina. the Bluff House Marina has a major set back in the reconstruction of their marina as a result of a boar that sank in the area where the marina needs to be rebuilt. They are willing to pay half the cost to remove this boat, however they are having a difficult time getting the local government authorities to assist. The cost of removing the boat is some $20,000.

A meeting was held in Mores Island on 2nd February with the local bonefishermen as well as tourist-related establishments. In his address, Manager Don Cornish informed those attending the meeting of the need for greater awareness of the importance of bonefishing in The Bahamas as well as of the newly-formed Bonefish Council of the Ministry of Tourism. Mr Cornish encouraged them to improve the standard of their tourism product and island to be able to compete with the rest of the world and to identify points of interest and attractions on Mores Island. He also advised persons attending who own motels which are not licensed with the Hotel Licensing Board to do so right away. They were also invited to participate in the island-wide Heritage Festival scheduled for October of this year.

During the second and third weeks of February the Abaco Tourist Office conducted meetings throughout the island of Abaco for the bonefishermen of Abaco. The purpose of these meetings was to make the fishermen more aware and to discuss concerns within this industry. We expect to determine out of these meetings the major concerns with reference to bonefishing in Abaco that would be taken to the Bonefish Council for review.

The Abaco Tourist Office has embarked on an initiative to create greater awareness of the natural resources of the island and the benefits of conservation. Efforts are being undertaken to ensure that the habitats for the Bahama parrot, wild boar and wild horses are protected and that the indiscriminate burning of the forests is discontinued. We advocate that the Department of Forestry (Lands and Surveys) re-institute the Department of Forestry and appoint Forestry Officers for the Abaco mainland to manage our forest reserves as was done in the past.

serious concerns exist regarding the large number of stray dogs and feral cats on the mainland of Abaco. We have taken steps to have the Department of Agriculture brought in to assist with control and elimination of this problem in the near future.

Nadira Ullyet and Jessica Wilt of the Washington Times arrived in Abaco on 14th February to conduct interviews and tour various places of interest in the Abacos. They will prepare a report on The Bahamas, including the Abacos, highlighting economic trends, particularly in tourism and investment opportunities. Don Cornish is assisting them.

Correction: Prior to becoming Office Manager at the Abaco Tourist Office Mr Don Cornish was Office Manager and Secretary to the Central Abaco Council.

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