Swan: Act Now On Tourism Authority
St. George’s and UBP MP Kim Swan is calling on Government to act expeditiously on tourism, first starting with empowering the industry stakeholders and finally establishing a Tourism Authority.
The Tourism Board’s report – which was released by Government earlier this month – said, “The continuity of our tourism strategy is paramount. In our view, the transition to a Tourism Authority will provide much needed autonomy and address concerns that have been expressed in the private sector.”
Mr. Swan stated, “There comes a time when you must ‘do it’ and the most significant finding that the Board has come up with is once again a Tourism Authority. ”
“The recommendation repeatedly comes up, gets side-stepped but the country is in such a dire economic state, that this recommendation is actually an opportunity for the government to give people hope and engage our best minds and entrepreneurs.”
“By forming a Tourism Authority and granting the spending and decision making to the industry stakeholders, government would in essence be forming an economic coalition to rebuild the country.”
“Such a progressive decision would be a major release valve for a country desperately in need to make use of the best minds on offer in our country. It is time for the new Minister Hon. Wayne Furbert to act – on the most obvious and significant of the boards findings – the implementation of a Tourism Authority. ”
“Ironically, former Tourism Minister Mr. David Dodwell reached that conclusion in 98′ before the uBp lost the election; former Tourism Minister Ms. Renee Webb reached the same conclusion in 2006 before being replaced by Dr. Hon. Ewart Brown; and now on the heels of the Bermuda First Report recommending the same the governments own Tourism Board is recommending the implementation of a Tourism Authority.”
“This is a glorious opportunity for new Tourism Minister Hon. Wayne Furbert to get on with it and ‘Just Do It’ ! Empower the industry stakeholders to drive the direction of tourism by allocating to them a substantive portion of the discretionary spending of the $33 million budget through a Tourism Authority. ”
“With yet another report (this time by governments own Tourism Board) calling on government to implement a Tourism Authority it is conceivable that government could move swiftly to draft legislation and a plan to implement the Tourism Authority as soon as practicable in 2012. ”
“The Bermuda Tourism Authority led by private sector stakeholders would be best suited to oversee the rebuilding and rejuvenation of destination Bermuda, as a premium tourist location, and have the best chance at returning the industry to a successful state where increased air arrivals result in greater foriegn currency being generated locally.
“This decision would transcend partisan politics and put Bermuda First.”
Ain’t nothin gonna happen! Not with this government. They just got no ideas!
@ Cancer – so true, so true.
Once PLP understand a Tourism Authority takes power away from the Minister and Cabinet, they will reject it…and probably set-up some advisory board (like they have now) but call it a Tourism Authority.
They could call it a Tourism Committee that way they would never have to meet..
I seem to recall Minister of Tourism Wayne Furbert was in favor of a Tourism Authority…Hey Kim, fat chance of that happening anytime soon now…
“This is a glorious opportunity for the solo UBP man Kim Swan to jump to the OBA or PLP and ‘Just Do It’
You can join the flip flops that jump to the PLP, or you can join the flip flops that jump to the OBA in 1 day.
Then again you might want to keep the lights on because the ones that jump to the OBA may flip flop back to the UBP and beat the one day record.