Premier’s Keynote Address: Sustainable Tourism
Earlier today [Apr.4] Premier Paula Cox delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development being held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.
The Premier’s full speech follow below:
Good Morning.
Mr. Chairman, Minister Minors, Ministers of the Government, Director-General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Authority, Mr. Alec Sanguinetti, Opposition Leader,
Parliamentarians, Distinguished Overseas presenters and attendees,
ladies and gentlemen.
Let me thank Mr. Chairman for that fulsome introduction. It comes closest to what I said when asked to introduce myself. Thank you to all one hundred and eighty of you for coming out today. I feel a tad disappointed though as it seems I have missed a moment of opportunity to generate revenue. I should have asked for a commission.
You can tell I am a Minister of Finance and not a Minister of Tourism- I feel the love after I have received the money. (Now don’t jump to the wrong conclusions.)
Anyway… I do hope you are sitting comfortably because I’d like to start off with a little story.
It’s got all the elements you would expect: a beautiful setting, beautiful people, a page-turning plot with interesting characters, a journey of discovery and of course some bumps in the road – no placid, still waters- but drama. This story has both a beginning and middle. The end- well……
Let’s begin…
Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a special group of people in a very special land that was another world. These people were known as Bermudians.
They had a very simple value proposition: service is key. This was the early version of the Bermuda brand. Everyone was singing off the same tune and it worked.
We had the local entertainers, Bermudians who loved working in the hospitality sector: hoteliers, guest house operators, taxi entrepreneur and, retailers. Tourists enjoyed Bermuda, Bermudians had a welcoming way, our entertainers entertained people made money and our GDP reflected a buoyant tourism sector. That was then.
They were heady and exciting days. Tourists rolled in. Everyone was happy.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Bermuda’s model soon attracted attention and we were facing robust competition on the tourism front.
At the same time we were firing on both cylinders with the international business sector. We had attracted risk professional who were exceptionally good at what they did. They built a glittering reputation for themselves and Bermuda.
These were pioneering times when all interests were fully aligned behind the single idea of creating a Bermuda Market.
However the success of this international business sector coincided with a less directed attention on tourism.
Then came the crossroads –rapid growth in the insurance and reinsurance sector and growth of the captive insurance business in Bermuda.
Bermuda became a leader …… a lightning rod for insurance. We are known as the risk capital of the world.
At the same time our tourism fortunes became less buoyant.
Our business model and focus changed.
It was more common to hear that the tourism industry was in crisis. The prevalent view was that the future started yesterday and already we are too late.
There were seen to be challenges in the operating model that were further exacerbated by the continued global economic decline. Our tourism infrastructure became in many cases outdated and was not being developed in accordance with the modern market. Investors were not clear as to which sites were available or appropriate for development. This discouraged interest in investing in Bermuda.
Hurricanes, 9-11, economic downturns and recessions played their part in our downward spiral as well as a shift in focus on the policy front.
It will be for history to judge whether one sector of the economy was accommodated at the expense of the other.
Fast forward the story to today.
Tourism has always been seen by this Government as the leveller- a rising tide lifts all boats. From a policy perspective it was important to us that tourism’s fortunes change and rise.
Tremendous energy and action was initiated by our first Tourism Minister, the late Hon David Allen. He launched the African Heritage Diaspora Trail. He was subsequently followed by the Hon Renee Webb and then the former Premier, the Hon. Dr. E. F. Brown, JP MP. Our current Minister of Business Development and Tourism is the dynamic, and intelligent Minister Patrice Minors, who brings her own unique skill-sets to this key ministerial portfolio.
Determined efforts were needed to revive the hospitality sector on all fronts. This included airlift, a public and private transportation infrastructure to efficiently move the tourists and the provision of world-class restaurants and facilities.
Our hotel model needed to be sustainable and we needed to provide our visitors with an experience that caused them to wish to return and to spend money while on-island. This requires that we all press forward with a co-ordinated action that was collaborative.
When the music changes, so do does the dance.
From a strategic perspective, as a Government we considered it imperative to strengthen our economic pillars, to enhance our competitiveness and to look for new sources of business so that we had a sustainable economy that was both healthy and vibrant. This was the impetus for the formation of the new Ministry of Business Development and Tourism.
This new Ministry includes the Department of Tourism, the Registrar of Companies and the Business Development and Regulatory Department. Given that we must also focus efforts on finding new sources of business- the Intellectual Property section of the Registry-General; e-Commerce and Telecommunications are also the responsibility of this Ministry. We have to ensure that we sustain and strengthen our competitiveness in both tourism and international business.
A sustainable development economic model for Bermuda requires that our tourism and financial services sector are in sync and that we leverage the existing strengths and consolidate gains so there is a win-win scenario.
The vision for the Ministry of Tourism and Business Development is for Bermuda to become the leading year-round vacation and business destination.
Tourism is a central plank in our plan for the country.
To promote our respective islands as a destination for tourism in this economic climate is not easy. However nothing daring was ever accomplished by the faint-hearted.
There is always an uneasy tension between where to draw the balance between progress and environment.
Sustainable development. Sustainable tourism. Where are we?
In Bermuda, under former Premier, the Hon. W. A. Scott JP MP the Government introduced a Sustainable Development Unit, which now sits in the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy. The Unit’s mandate focus is to promote strategies so Bermuda has a sustainable future. Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What Makes a Good National Sustainable Development Strategy ?
The International guidelines for a National Sustainable Development process are:-
Integration of a country’s economic, social and environmental objectives:
Effective participation by the general public and non-governmental bodies on a shared strategic and pragmatic long-term vision.
Continuity of the strategic development process, with linkages between the short-term, the medium-term and the long-term objectives.
Priorities set by the domestic agenda- not imposed externally.
High-level government commitment and influential lead stakeholder entities.
Comprehensive and coordinated policy process, based on reliable analysis.
Realistic but flexible targets and clear budgetary priorities.
Incorporate monitoring, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms
Sustainable tourism development is not just about running the tourism business efficiently and profitably. That is necessary, but not sufficient.
Sustainable tourism development is not just about making sure that hotel developers ‘green’ their properties and services, although that too is necessary.
Sustainable tourism development is not just about focussing on responsible tourism.
Sustainable tourism development is not just about getting informed participation of all stakeholders.
Sustainable tourism development is not just about maintaining a high level of tourism satisfaction so that tourists have meaningful experiences.
It is all of that and more.
Now is the time to re-set the dial as we look forward to a positive future.
Our tourism brand and our hotel offerings will continue to be refreshed. We will continue to provide options for future tourism investors. We will provide less red tape and more red carpet. We will protect the Bermuda brand and our cultural and environmental heritage.
It is an exciting time to be part of the tourism industry. Tourism has the potential to be one of the fastest growing sectors. It is a dynamic business and an industry which delivers economic and social benefits for all of Bermuda. It can generate significant revenue and jobs for Bermuda’s people. It plays a critical role in the economic prosperity of the Island and can be the impetus for phenomenal growth.
Through a credible sustainable tourism strategy, we are getting the momentum going.
Yes……. we are re-setting the dial.
We have taken steps by two recent legislative initiatives on the tourism front with the hotly-debated Tucker’s Point Special Development Order and its partnering with the Rosewood Brand and the widely-supported Morgan’s Point Bill to demonstrate the Government of Bermuda’s ongoing commitment to enhance our on-island tourism product by injecting further dynamism into our hotel offerings.
We will continue to be bold and to be innovative. As I conclude, let me admit that there really is no story ending. Bermuda ‘s tourism model is re-inventing itself. The same can be said for other respected members of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.
We know that as the music changes so too does the dance – it will be a grand and sustainable enterprise. Let’s seize the moment- we have the opportunity.
Thank you.
Read More About
Category: All
