By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchombe yesterday hit out at the $750,000 "token change" that his Ministry contributed to marketing the Family Islands, branding as "unacceptable" the fact that the 2.2 per cent arrivals growth was generated by only a few destinations.

Pledging to increase the marketing budget for the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, Mr Wilchcombe said that of these destinations, the Bahamas was only seeing growth in visitor arrivals on islands such as Exuma, Abaco and Bimini.

Speaking at a meeting of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, Mr Wilchombe said not enough money has been directed towards marketing Freeport and the Family Islands. He questioned why the Board was still being given "token change" for its marketing budget.

Mr Wilchombe said: "I was suprised to learn that the contribution for the Ministry of Tourism is just around $750,000. Of course, we do give back some money for other marketing, but $750,000 is not enough to market the Family Islands. We spend $750,000 on small things just here in Nassau. We are going to lift that substantially, and we're going to lift it in this Budget year."

Minister Wilchombe added: "It has been my view that we spend a large amount of money on the capital city, which we must - we have a large population here.

"However, we have spent little time focusing on Grand Bahama and the Family Islands. We have not put in the money and we have not marketed effectively. In fact, the world has changed and we haven't changed with it. Technology has made it easier for us to market our country, but we haven't moved as progressively as we should. In our Family Islands lie great stories; stories that make us unique."

Mr Wilchombe said airlift was a challenge for many of the Family Islands. "If we are going to call for airlift at reasonable prices, certainly Bahamasair has to step up to the plate and allow us to market the islands much more effectively," he added.

Mr Wilchombe said the Ministry need to look at the money it spent on marketing abroad. He added: "We spend a lot of money abroad right now. The money we spend abroad, we have to ask whether or not it's practical. We have to look at what we are doing.

"The Out Island Promotions Board has a role to play. We want each island to have an opportunity. The arrivals to the islands are up 2.2 per cent, but is that significant? We are only seeing growth in islands like Exuma, Abaco and Bimini. That's not acceptable. That tells you the work we have to do."

Mr Wilchombe said Bimini has been showing a visitor return rate of 79 per cent, one of the highest in the Bahamas.

"Bimini is one of, if not the only island, in the country that has all its major hotels open," he added.

"A lot of leisure craft come into Bimini. Now there is a ferry service starting up soon. We have had discussions with airlines coming to Bimini. Bimini is one of the islands that I believe, if allowed to, can become self-sustainable."