The Bahamas must ensure it strikes the right balance between its cruise and stop-over business, the FNM's deputy leader reiterating that it provide a competitive and unique product.

“We have to consider the value of this cruise business as opposed to the stopover visitor, and to what extent we want to grow that business. We have to rationalise the business we want to be in, and ensure that we balance the air versus the sea, and ensure that they do not cannibalize each other,” said K P Turnquest.

“We have to now prepare ourselves; our people and our product, to compete in a quality and competitive-driven market. Rather than eyeing Cuba and begging them to help us get some of their tourists, we need to focus on what has caused our product to decline in terms of its attractiveness and yield.

"The port of Nassau needs to be rehabilitated, it needs to be improved, it needs more incentive given, and we need to appeal to the value drivers of those properties downtown to do something about the aesthetics," he added.

"That may mean doing things like putting a moratorium on different kinds of businesses. Not everyone can have a jewellery store, not everyone can have a T-shirt shop. It means doing something with Woodes Rogers Wharf, something more innovative,” said Mr Turnquest.

“We have to work on our Customs services, we have to work on our product, work on the aesthetics to ensure that we offer a competitive and unique product that people will want to come back to.”