By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Family Island tourism operators yesterday urged that aviation be treated as a national economic priority, warning that inadequate airlift continues to hold back a visitor market they assert represents the greatest opportunity for sustainable growth outside New Providence.

Cheryl Bastian, owner and operator of Swain's Cay Lodge in Mangrove Cay, and a past president of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, said the issue extends far beyond the recent disruption to flights serving Andros. 

She argued that reliable air service has been the industry's biggest challenge for decades despite growing demand for authentic Out Island experiences. "The real meat in the pot is Out Island stopover tourism. That's the future of the country. People want something authentic, unique and different,” she added.

Ms Bastian said while Nassau remains an important tourism hub, increasing numbers of travellers are seeking quieter, more authentic destinations where they can experience nature, fishing, boating and Bahamian culture.

"Nassau is beautiful. I love Nassau. But these Out Islands offer something different. They're quaint, they're not crowded, and the people are so hungry for business that they go the extra mile with customer service and hospitality,” Ms Bastian added.

She warned, however, that unreliable domestic air service continues to undermine that opportunity, making it harder for resorts to attract visitors and creating uncertainty for guests planning months in advance.

The concerns have intensified following changes to air service in South Andros after Flamingo Air suspended operations, but Ms Bastian stressed the industry's frustrations long pre-date the recent tragedy.

"That's always been the concern ever since I started in this industry, and started attending the Out Island Promotion Board meetings and the Hotel Association meetings. That's what's on the table every single time. It's time we get to that now,” she added.

According to Ms Bastian, the biggest challenge facing destinations such as Mangrove Cay is not attracting visitors, but getting them there conveniently.

She explained most international travellers arrive in Nassau during the afternoon before connecting to the Family Islands. Without reliable afternoon flights, she said, many visitors are forced to spend an extra night in Nassau before continuing their journey.

"Customers who love the Out Islands don't want to stay overnight in busy Nassau. For our anglers, that's going to be a turn-off,” Ms Bastian explained.

She said overseas booking partners have already raised concerns with government officials because many guests have reservations for the upcoming fall and winter tourism season.

"Many of them have already booked their flights for November, December and January. We need a solution as soon as possible because the customers are concerned,” Ms Bastian added.

Without greater certainty, Ms Bastian fears travellers could begin choosing competing destinations.

"Most of our visitors come from the northeastern United States. If we don't resolve this, I'm certain that business is going to be pushed to Mexico and the Dominican Republic. We want that to stop so we can continue getting our lion's share because we have beautiful islands,” she said.

While acknowledging the efforts being made to restore service in the short term, Ms Bastian said the industry needs to focus on long-term aviation solutions rather than temporary fixes.

She called for more Bahamian-owned airlines, additional daily frequencies to the Family Islands and accelerated upgrades to airport infrastructure, including improvements to Mangrove Cay airport to accommodate international service.

"We've been told Mangrove Cay can become an international airport. We need that to be fast-tracked because people plan their trips months ahead,” she added.

Ms Bastian also encouraged greater private investment in domestic aviation, noting stronger local airline capacity would improve connectivity while helping keep travel costs competitive.

"The reality is the airlines can't run on air. There has to be a growing period, and they need to get us the airlines so we can go through that,” she said.

Ms Bastian argued that strengthening Family Island airlift would benefit not only Andros but destinations across the archipelago, many of which continue to struggle with limited flight options despite growing tourism potential. "We've got a great opportunity in The Bahamas to continue increasing our tourism business, but we've got to find a way,” she said.