Two government ministries will support Eleuthera resort developers to ensure there is sufficient air access to the island in accord with international standards, the Prime Minister has said.

Perry Christie told the third annual Eleuthera Business Outlook conference: “In terms of number of infrastructure works, the Government, within the next budget cycle, will carry out airport upgrades in Eleuthera to IATA standards and advance construction of the mini-hospital here in central Eleuthera.

“The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation will provide support, in partnership with Eleuthera’s resort development partners, to ensure there is air travel access and the satisfactory delivery and facilitation of passengers to international standards.”

Mr Christie added that Eleuthera is “ideally suited” for the niche second home rental market. ”Globally, second home rentals have become an important component of the tourism mix and are attracting a strong and loyal following among consumers,” the Prime Minister said.

“Home Away, the global sector’s largest listings company, reported that in 2013 it generated more than $11 billion in rental revenue for its owners and property managers. Eleuthera is ideally suited to this new niche product type, many of which, throughout the Bahamas, are Bahamian-owned. In fact, with 28 operating hotels, Eleuthera currently has as much second home room rental inventory as hotel rooms.

Mr Christie added: “In terms of tourism development, the economic model of mainland Eleuthera is still evolving. The Ministry of Tourism’s records reveal that with 376 second homes actively engaged in short-term rentals, the islands of Eleuthera and Harbour Island are out paced only by Abaco in the Bahamian home rental market.

“Of that number, 290 are located on mainland Eleuthera, with 75 per cent of these homes located in the settlement of Governor’s Harbour.”