The mid market tourism industry in Exuma has been taking a hammering since the summer, and doesn't look like it's going to improve anytime soon. Visitors know once on island it's going to be expensive compared to other destinations, the food average at best, but they want o come because of our beautiful ocean and beaches, and our wonderful people, and once experienced, many just want o keep coming back again and again. So what's the problem? It's all down to the cost of getting here from the US, and the greed of the US Airlines, especially American who hold a total dominance on the MIA to GGT route. As an experiment I priced a round trip of one week coming from Miami today on American, and the price was over $ 1500, on the Thanks giving week it was over $ 2100. By comparison I priced a flight from GGT to LHR (London Heathrow in the UK), leaving today for a week and it was $1080 including a suitcase. How can American justify their charges? They can't, but with no competition they don't have too. We need a Bahamasair daily service with a maximum price of $ 499. That would be full everyday, (and profitable too for Bahamasair) and before long could be increased to twice daily. Yes American's flight is still full, because the rich are still coming to Exuma, but if you add up all the middle income people who are not, and who spread their spending throughout all the smaller business of our islands, we are missing a huge amount of revenue already this year, and hat is hiring our community in so many different ways.

Yes to everything above, but what is really killing the tourism business is the cost of air travel, especially from the US. The rich will always come, but the middle/upper middle market is our bread and butter visitor. A family of 5 who live in Tampa wanted to come to Exuma in February and were facing a cost of $ 8000 just to get there. Their answer was simply not to come. The Europeans who usually visit during the summer months in good numbers, didn't come for the same reason. Although fuel prices are high (they have been much higher before), i's the airlines greed to overcharge passengers that is having such a negative influence on our tourism business, and sadly I don' see it getting better anytime soon.

I once met a very wise old man in Tobago, and remember sitting at a table in his restaurant after a wonderful meal, when he asked if my wife & I would like a complementary drink. We accepted and he asked if he could join us. I was in my early thirties and slightly embarrassed about my British heritage, and the fact his country had been under our control for many decades. He changed my perspective on that part of his nations history when he told me his life of living under the British, and as an independent Nation. He smiled and said I had nothing to be embarrassed about. Under the British, there was Law & Order, Healthcare, Education, Infrastructure, the economy ran in surplus, and the life was happy and good. Sound familiar? Now I'm certainly not advocating for the Bahamas to be controlled by the British, but what has actually been achieved in 53 years. Nothing works as well as it did before independence and our nation is massively in debt, with nothing to show for it. I love our country and it's people, and it deeply pains me to see such a wasted opportunity. It's never too late o start again, but the ruling class will never let go of their grip on power, and I sadly don't think the people will ever rise up and say they have had enough, and it's time for real change. Just m opinion. Happy 53rd Day Independence!

This is outrageous. Everyone who boards a plane should pass through the same level of security, and if something needs clarifying after screening, it should be done, for the safety of all on the flight.

Sounds like he knew too much about too many powerful Bahamian peoples International money & assets, and justice would have revealed some interesting names. Better to lose some of your 'offshore funds, but keep your anonymity, and the rest of your 'private' funds. If you are going to steal money, be it from those who officially can't admit to having it themselves. Just a thought?

So does this mean that the outstanding VAT owed to the Government has now been paid, a settlement reached, or just gone away?

The Bahamas is, and will remain totally reliant on tourism for many generations to come

As a positive, we have some of the most beautiful waters in the world, stunning beaches, friendly people, and a mystical image among people from all around the globe. American's and Canadian's can access the country relatively easily, and European's accept the high travel costs to get here, as they want to experience 'paradise' for themselves.

On a less positive note, our country is extremely expensive and really doesn't offer good value for money, especially when you look at other options available within the Caribbean. New Providence is what it is, run down, dirty, and crime ridden. The principal family island are magical, but suffering from years of neglect in maintaining and developing suitable infrastructure to support a growing tourism sector.

There will be always be visitors who seek out the all inclusive hotel, or cruise ship vacations (and that is what has and will drive New Providence), but there has been for nearly a decade a growing group of independent travellers who want to unique experiences that they have full control over, and that is what has created the private home rental market globally.

I can only speak as a member of the community that our DPM represents, that it is transforming our island, and creating massive opportunities for the people of Exuma. Even though our new airport came to a halt over a month ago, as the government hasn't paid the contractor a cent since they started last July, our new stretch of road has not been completed, and should have been finished last year, the people still come, and they want to stay in private homes, and be guide by ;local people to help them have the vacation of a lifetime.

There are two clear sectors in the private rental market, luxury and affordable. I am not against the luxury market who take over $ 100k per year, having to pay VAT, and being able to offset their accumulated VAT costs from running what is a business, and most of those guests will probably be able to deal with the additional 10% VAT charge to their vacation. However to charge VAT on people below the VAT threshold, goes against the very laws of our VAT system, and hurts Bahamians and legal residents of the Bahamas, who are on a limited budget.

All of the monies I earn through renting an apartment stay on island. My guests rent cars, boats, take excursions to see the swimming Pigs, buy food in the stores, go to local bars and restaurants, and spend thousands of dollars per person when they visit. Everywhere else the go they pay 10% VAT on all their purchases. isn't that enough of a contribution?

if I was to increase my prices by 10%, I would lose a large percentage of future guests, who would just decide that the Bahamas isn't value for money. If I don't earn money, I can't spend it on the island, and if my guests don't come, neither can they!

I'm not sure where you are getting your news, but there are already 227 dead, and that is likely to rise significantly.

Exuma doesn't want them for the very same reasons as Harbour Island. It appears to be a reoccurring problem since March 2020 that the Minister of Tourism makes bold announcements for future opportunities for tourism in the Bahamas, without having discussed the plans with all the stakeholders. Put simply his department comes up with hair brained ideas, but doesn't ask the locals what we think before going public,

As an Exuma resident I am thrilled to hear that work will begin next month on our new airport.
My question is how the cost has now risen by $ 21 million in just over a year, to a staggering total of $ 66 million. on the 26th October last year the cost was quoted at being $ 44 million, and that the airport was due be open by the end of 2020. While I appreciate Covid19 has not helped with the timeline for the opening, which at 14 months was pretty optimistic in the first place, I really can't understand where the 50% increase in cost has come from? In these difficult times I would have thought if anything, the cost should have decreased as contractors would be crying out for work for their businesses and staff?