Boycott, cancellations - how visitors are reacting to boating fee increases

BY ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

A ROW over increased boating fees is continuing to see visitors cancelling their trips - while one post on social media is talking about a boycott of The Bahamas.

Stephen Kappeler said Bimini Big Game Club Resort has seen another six cancellations as of yesterday, adding: “The bigger issue is not much forward boat booking with slips and rooms.”

Meanwhile, Bimini Cove Resort and Marina, which has seen ten cancellations, has been warned by guests that they would not return to the island now that increased boating fees have taken effect. The property manager, Jonisha Poitier, said a post shared to a Bimini-related Facebook group, revealed a woman talking about “boycotting” The Bahamas.

“We definitely had some persons that were not happy,” Ms Poitier said. “I had a few cancellations. I do have some clients that are coming, but for the most part, I’ve had some cancellations due to the increase in fees. We’ve had about ten.

“So we do have about 45 rooms in the rental programme, that doesn’t include persons that do Airbnbs as well. And I do have some clients that have said that their guests have also canceled due to the increasing fees.”

A YouTube Video was shared with Tribune Business of a boater stating that there’s a new $802 fee to enter The Bahamas and that “AIS is a must have to enter their waterways”. Commenters on the video expressed disappointment in the new fees with many stating they will no longer visit The Bahamas. One added that “there’s a lot of ripping off of Americans, and this is just the Bahamian government continuing that culture.” The commenter said they had recently returned from Bimini and that “it’ll likely be the last trip to The Bahamas”.

“Someone on Facebook was saying that they’re not coming,” Ms Poitier added. “They’re going to the [Florida] cays instead. I have a lot of clients that are saying that now. She was on there saying how she comes a few times a year. She’s canceled all of her trips for the year.”

Ms Poitier said the decision was a swift one and she has experienced guests, who are also second-home owners in Bimini, contemplating selling their residence.

“I think this was kind of a shock to everyone,” she said. “Before I could even see it anywhere or was made aware of it, I had clients that were sending it to me, and I had to tell them let me check it out, and I’ll, get back to you.

“I don’t know if it’s going to bring a new kind of clientele. I don’t know. I know persons are now, at this moment, very upset. I don’t know if it’s because it’s in its initial stages. But I could speak to basically saying that we have had cancelations. We do have some persons that are still coming. As a matter of fact, I was just talking to a boater who said she may just purchase an unlimited package if that’s something that they offer because she has a home here. And if she can’t do that, she’s considering selling. It’s affecting second-home owners. There are a lot of second-home owners here. A lot of people vacation here. A lot of people spend a lot of time here.”

A yearly slight increase was suggested by Ms Poitier, who added: “Even if there was an increase, $100, $50, if they’re going to increase every year, I could see that. But this is almost double in some cases”. She said she hopes the government “revisits their decision”.

“I hope they’re looking at everyone’s response,” Ms Poitier said. “I hope they’re on social media, and seeing what people are saying... and checking the marinas to see how it’s affecting the marinas. Like I said, I had a client this morning that called and said that they had an Airbnb booked, and they canceled due to the fees.

“I really hope that they do revisit, because I’ve heard a lot of concerns from the clientele that’s coming in. I have experienced some cancellations due to the change in prices. Like I said, I don’t know if it’s going to be long term. We’re just going to have to wait it out and see what happens, but I do know it’s going to affect some traffic for some time. So we’ll just have to, at this point, wait and see how it goes. “As long as they’re hearing the complaints and then making the adjustments needed, I’m happy with that.

“We have a lot of boaters in Bimini. Most persons that do come, they fish. We have a lot of boaters that come. We have a lot of smaller boats that come, smaller vessels that come, 30 foot, 25 foot, 40 footers, all of different sizes. So it’s not necessarily the bigger ones that come. We have fishermen that come.

“We have the yachts that come, but we have mostly small boaters that come. Especially here at Bimini Cove, a lot of clients that we have, they come, they rent a unit, but they go out and fish all day. Or they may decide they want to go to Honeymoon Harbour all day. So they have smaller boats, 30, 35, 40 foot boats. I have a few right now that I was just talking to, just came in from fishing. But they’re small 35 foot vessels.”

Comments

ThisIsOurs says...

Pricing is a skill and a balancing act. Too often it appears that the only concern for the govt is how much money is to be made if they hikes taxes and fee-taxes 400% higher. Theres no balance in their act and they often enter the "*beyond the market can bear*" domain.

Where is the line between *not paying their fare share* and extortion? It's in the data. Unfortunately noone's given any.

Posted 4 July 2025, 2:31 a.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

This isn't a "row", Ms. Nixon, of the Tribune.
This is a very stupid governmental move that was clearly made by people with no business experience or concern for our economy.
Nobody is arguing that we need to raise some fees.
The issue is the manner it was done.
No educated business person, who relied on that business to make a living, would ever pull a stunt like this. Period.
A prudent business person cares about their clientele's concerns.
We produce almost nothing in The Bahamas.
We rely nearly completely on tourism and the American market.
Our politicians produce nothing. All of them rely on the money coming into this country from outside, mostly tourism, and the efforts of working Bahamians.
We produce nearly nothing.
The politicians suck at the teat of this society. The politicians, especially this particular administration have shown clearly that they have neither the education, the concern, nor the moral stature to lead anyone.
Clearly, more clearly than ever, this country is going backwards, and all we hear are words.
No action to improve the infrastructure vital to our tourism industry and the living conditions of Bahamians.
What island is not experiencing these critical infrastructure challenges?
The Tribune, day after day, highlights the valid and vocal complaints by our legitimate business people.
Yet, here we are, 50+ years after Independence, and nearly every island in this country is punishing?
What bold MP has the audacity to ask to be reelected? For what? So they can fly around the world, and get rich here at home by fleecing The People?
Day in and day out we hear of these big contracts being awarded. Why is isn't every one scrutinized by The People?
We know why.
They just act like we're stupid. The most dangerous people in The Bahamas are not foreigners.
They are sitting in Parliament.

Posted 4 July 2025, 7:12 a.m. Suggest removal

tetelestai says...

Porcupine, generally you raise very cogent comments. I think your political bias, which we all have, is blinding you. Firstly - yachting fees are an inelastic demand - that is there is no correlation between increased fees and the decline of the industry. I will leave it up to you to do your own google search, and from there, I am sure that you will follow the breadcrumbs. If these so-called yachters are leaving because of increased fees, then they are people that we do not need in the first instance. (If you believe that Bezos, Buffet, Salah, et al. scoff at yacht fees, then you are sadly mistaken.) They are akin to professional pirates, who are looking for the cheapest place to moor their ships and damage our topography and ocean floor. Good riddance to them.
Given the awful degradation of our natural waters and coral reefs, the government should implement a "sin tax" on these dastardly locomotives to ensure that our environment is protected. And, if one is to bitch and moan about the increase, then they are more than welcome to go to Cayman or Europe and destroy their environment.
At some point, Porcupine, you should have the intellect and just plain ole common sense, to not attribute everything to politics, but rather you should protect your country.
(P.S. - the FNM will be utterly massacred in the upcoming election. It will not even be close.)

Posted 4 July 2025, 11:16 a.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

The number 1 industry in The Bahamas is tourism. Here we are 50+ years into independence, and we cannot produce leaders who look out for this country? We have continued to fall down on the job of doing even the minimal to assure that we have repeat business and take care of those guests who essentially pay EVERY politicians salary and keep The Bahamas from falling into national abject poverty. That our guests cannot count on reliable electricity, water, phone and internet service, fire suppression, medical facilities, nor a reliable and educated police department, is a slap in the face to the majority of Bahamians who rely on tourism for their livelihood. This entire administration is completely lost and dragging this country down. The drama revolving around the private airplane fees. the recent increase in all boating fees, for Bahamians and foreigners alike, show a complete disregard for this well being of this country. This administration should hang its head in shame for these transgressions. It is unbelievable that we have elected a group of people who can only stuff their pockets and their bellies for 5 years while completely ignoring the needs of the Bahamian people. At the end of the day however, it is the Bahamian people who have put these poor excuses for "leaders" into office. The bottom line is the fact that most of us just don't seem to care. We take the few dollars they hand us and then run our mouths for 5 years, as if, we are not the problem.

Posted 4 July 2025, 7:16 a.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

Second home owners want to sell their property. I WOULD LIKE TO BUY. .THE OUTRAGE MAKES NO SENSE. ALL COUNTRIES HAVE LAWS CAN Bahamians go to the USA and make any fuss over USA fees or laws.

Posted 4 July 2025, 7:56 a.m. Suggest removal

Dawes says...

Theres plenty homes on the market, off you go and buy. Or is that just talk from you. And yes every country can make their own laws and fees. But if they make them too high people don't visit so you don't make as much. Lets see how this plays out. If they still come, then great we have made more and people are still employed. If not we have lost money and all the people involved in that industry (it si thousands) are about to have a much harder life. Where is the studies to show that this price won't cause a drop in visitors? There is none as they didn't do one. They just picked a number and are hoping.

Posted 4 July 2025, 9:10 a.m. Suggest removal

tetelestai says...

You should ask yourself, why foreign second home owners - as birdie suggests -are selling, especially having regard to The Bahamas' National Investment Policy. I suspect, though, that you are more interested in "slamming" birdie, and lapping up your own political bias to ask this question.

At some point, Dawes, you - as we all - need to get our head out of the political derriere and think about our country.

Posted 4 July 2025, 11:19 a.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

They go out and fish all day. .

Posted 4 July 2025, 8:01 a.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

You are absolutely brilliant birdie.
Are you hiding a political agenda? Are you really smart, and just playing dumb?
Seems like you are supporting a Party, not the nation of The Bahamas.
"THE OUTRAGE MAKES NO SENSE." Say what, birdie?
Obviously, you didn't read, not comprehend, the news article.
And, very clearly you have never run a business.
How about education, birdie?
Do you not realize where the vast majority of money that runs this country, providing for every convenience you have birdie, comes from the US.
Hey, I don't like their policies either now, but only an idiot would not listen to their #1 customer. Seems rather stupid, doesn't it birdie?
It is rather sad to see your your ignorant ramblings, clearly dragging this nation down.
Personally, I think you are a PLP operative, since I truly don't believe there are people who are still as ignorant as you.

Posted 4 July 2025, 8:49 a.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment