By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WHILE Junkanoo Carnival in Grand Bahama last month was a success and generated significant economic activity, but the event did not attract the expected large volume of visitors to fill hotel rooms on the island.

Russell Miller, president of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board (GBITB), told The Tribune that hotels were not “sold out” during the Carnival launch weekend of April 17-18 in Freeport, but said there was an overall increase in occupancy on the island.

“There were some tourists but not a tremendous amount,” he said. “Some visitors came and experienced it (Carnival) and it was decent, but I don’t think it was overwhelming. Obviously, it is a good start for us and so there is room for us to build upon.”

Mr Miller reported that the island’s overall occupancy for the weekend was around 81 or 82 per cent.

“I can report that Grand Bahama did experience an increase across the board. We called around for information from all the hotels,” he said.

Taino Beach was transformed into a Cultural Village. There were booths erected throughout the venue, selling Bahamian food, beverages and locally made arts and crafts.   

The Taino Beach Resort ran at 90 per cent occupancy during the Carnival weekend. “It was definitely an increase for us,” said a spokesman for the resort, where many of the artists that came from Nassau to compete in the Music Masters semi-finals and from the Family Islands stayed.

The Royal Islander, Freeport, showed a small increase in occupancy, but nothing  significant, according to Ms Denardo.

The Pelican Bay Resort in Lucaya experienced 74 per cent occupancy for that weekend, but reported that bookings were for regular vacationers and corporate guests. “We did not have any persons coming for Carnival at the resort,” the resort said.

Viva Wyndham Club Fortuna’s Loyda Torres reported that they did not get “any real” increment due to Junkanoo Carnival. “All our booking and high occupancy was normal for that period regardless,” she said.

Despite enquiries, it is not known whether the two cruise ships experienced any significant increase either in passenger bookings that weekend. The Grand Celebration Cruise Line and Balearia Fast Ferry acquired larger vessels to provide expanded services to Grand Bahama and in December, the Prime Minister welcomed the increased service and had anticipated that there would be great visitor-interest for Carnival in Freeport.  

Mr Miller did not know how many additional visitors came on the cruise ships, but said some passengers were taken there. “I believe it was just regular people who would have come to the island. I don’t know that anyone extra or special came just for that (Carnival).”

The Bahamas National Festival Commission reported last week that the kick-off event in Freeport had a total economic impact of $5.2m, with a Gross Domestic Product impact of just over $20m.

David Jones, president of the Grand Bahama Taxi Union, reported that drivers experienced an increase in business. “Our drivers were happy for the increased business during that time,” he said. “We need events like this to boost economic activity on the island.”

Mr Miller attended the festival on both nights and said that there had been a lot of support from locals. “I think it was well attended both nights. Some visitors were there, but there was more local support from Freeport, as well as Nassau and some of the other islands,” he said.  

“The vendor booths were well attended, and from what I could see people were enjoying themselves. I also think certainly that it drew people from other islands and some visitor participation, but I think the key thing it speaks to is the fact that there is a need and demand to have some kind of activity on the island.

“People came out in big numbers and supported it because it was something to do.”

Mr Miller said that the GBITB supports such events that will attract visitors and persons to the island. “We supported the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival financially, and those are things that the destination needs to have more of.

“I think there could be more marketing specific to Carnival. We were the kick-off event for it, but we did not have any off-island entertainers or performers. So I think in addition to Bahamian entertainers, which were all excellent, there needs to be a mixture that would then be a draw to the tourists.

“We did not have that and I think that would be a good addition,” Mr Miller said.