Well, this is how it goes. The tourist buys all souvenirs on the cruise ship, walks past all 4 of the closed stores at the Point and to the dirty , shanty beach across from the prostitutes place. When they are done, they walk back to the cruise ship. They do not spend any money , so the excitement from the minister is disingenuous. He knows what is going on and is using numbers to facilitate his personal campaign.

So Chester the Jester, please explain why the vast majority of the Bahamian people are not deriving any real economic benefits from this so called 'record year for tourism'. Is it because only a few senior politicians like yourself have been well greased by the cruise line companies and port operators for allowing them to greatly enrich themselves off of the best assets our country has to offer while discharging tons of toxic pollutants into our air and territorial waters?

Pray tell Chester the Jester, why are our taxes and fees of every kind increasing, our national debt soaring out of control, and our annual deficits ever increasing, all during times when we have record tourist arrivals? Do you really think we are all as stupid as you obviously think we are?

Perhaps Jibrilu can explain what's going on here given the very cozy relationship she enjoys with the corrupt cruise line operators like RCL, Carnival, Disney, and so on.

Welcome news indeed. Well done! Looking ahead, especially with regard to sustainability and resilience in the face of inevitable global economic slowdowns, several questions for DPM Cooper and the country’s leaders generally:

1. Along with record-breaking 2024 tourism numbers, Bahamian ownership of accommodations has grown. How is the government ensuring more Bahamians—beyond a select few—profit from this trend rather than remaining in service roles?

2. As more Bahamians own vacation rentals and boutique hotels, what policies ensure fair competition against foreign-owned resorts with greater capital and marketing access?
3. Cruise passenger spending is concentrated in cruise-line-run facilities and Bay Street. What strategies redirect more of this revenue to Bahamian-owned businesses, particularly in the Family Islands?

4. Growth in locally-owned sustainable farming is promising. How is the government fostering local food production with infrastructure and marketing support to ensure sustainability and profitability?

5. Tourism strains natural resources. What steps ensure Bahamian-led ecotourism, marine conservation, and cultural tourism receive support on par with large foreign-owned resorts?

6. Rising land and housing costs threaten Bahamian ownership, especially on or near near prime coastal areas. How is the government ensuring Bahamians—not just foreign investors—can afford homes and businesses in high-value locations?

7. Bahamian entrepreneurs are advancing in non-tourism sectors. What incentives help local goods reach broader markets and reduce economic reliance on tourism?

8. Renewable energy adoption is growing. What policies accelerate this shift in tourism and small business sectors to reduce fossil fuel dependence and strengthen service infrastructure?

9. Bahamian culture is a major draw, yet tourism remains centered on sun, sand, and sea. What initiatives ensure artists, musicians, and cultural entrepreneurs benefit directly from industry growth?

10. While mass tourism dominates, locally driven alternatives are emerging. How is the government ensuring these sectors are sustainable and receive long-term support?

More broadly, what’s being done to build financial resilience for the average Bahamian? Could a National Wealth Fund, funded by tourism revenues and employer-matched worker contributions, provide financial security for homeownership, education, and emergencies? A pilot program for young workers, coupled with financial literacy education, and funded through tourism taxes, could foster economic stability and local wealth-building.

LOL. Poor use of ChatGBT.

If I lived on New Providence, I'd suggest we meet for coffee.

Since I don't, I'll leave you with this: Undergraduate and graduate degrees in environmental studies, politics, and education earned almost five decades ago at "elite" US East and West Coast Universities. My primary area of study was ecologically sound sustainable development in The Bahamas. 40 years of teaching in The Bahamas and at selective independent schools in Massachusetts and the Midwest, with the final two decades focused on topics such as globalization, climate change, civil rights, and equity and inclusion. And, perhaps most importantly, a curious, life-long learner.

And ChatGPT? Like Grammarly, it's a useful tool for editing, especially when one no longer has like-minded colleagues as sounding boards. It's a useful tool, particularly when inhabiting an intellectual desert.

At least you're honest in explaining why you perceive yourself to be an elitist and think like you do. If I had the same background as you I too would probably have fallen victim to being just as indoctrinated as you seem to be.

Why is Chester obsessed with 2019 tourism numbers??

Why is Chester so obsessed with cruise tourists???

This country needs 3-5 million STOPOVER tourists in order to see any real growth in this economy beyond 1% per year.

That should be their focus, instead of counting cheapskate tourists visiting private cays.

Delusional asshole is Chester ...... Smh

Amen! He's like he is because he's both on the dole from government and on the take from private sector interests, especially the foreign owned kind.

Agreed. Cruise visitors are good for collecting tax but so sadly most of them don't spend anything worthwhile on shore, which is where all of the local economy is. Air arrivals are much more important because those are the people who rent cars/get taxis, book hotels/AirBNB, support bars/restaurants and support the local economy in general. The Minnis government was similarly obsessed with cruise visitors. I get that governments want tax money but taxes don't build an economy.

The tax per passenger head they pay us is a mere tuppence of what they should be paying for the privilege of spewing highly toxic pollutants into the air we breathe and our territorial seas while at the same time annually pocketing for themselves mega millions of dollars of profits.