Robinson On BTA, Govt, Tourism & More
“”Now that the Bermuda Tourism Authority has publicly pledged to get itself back on the right track, where is the Government’s plan for the necessary financial investment to support the growth of our tourism industry,” Shadow Tourism Minister Dwayne Robinson said.
Mr Robinson said, “The One Bermuda Alliance welcomes the recently announced changes to be implemented by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the imminent search for a new CEO. The commitment to restructuring and re-organizing will provide a glimmer of optimism and hopefully show tangible results.
“Now that the Bermuda Tourism Authority has publicly pledged to get itself back on the right track, where is the Government’s plan for the necessary financial investment to support the growth of our tourism industry?
“There was very little mention of tourism between the last two throne speeches, which I raised as a concern previously. The tourism investment orders passed by the Government in the previous session are going to provide much needed additions to our tourism product and have been supported by the OBA in the house.
“However, tourism investment orders alone while waiting for Fairmont Southampton to re-open is not a comprehensive plan to support the growth of our tourism industry.
“The Government should:
- Invest in our meetings, incentives, conference, and exhibitions infrastructure to boost business tourism.
- Attract additional hotel developers to Bermuda to increase our bed capacity on top of Fairmont Southampton.
- Properly maintain our amenities such as beaches, public bathrooms, railways, and roads.
- Expand our sports tourism opportunities.
- Start producing a separate investment plan that supports the National Tourism Plan managed by the BTA.
“One of the most cited issues by hotels is transportation, which has also frustrated the Bermudian public. Multiple members of the industry have come forward with their suggested fixes to the issues plaguing transportation which shows a willingness from stakeholders to remedy the issues.
“However, the Minister has yet to come forward with a comprehensive plan of his own to address the woes of transport. With no set date for the Ridesharing Legislation to be brought before the House of Assembly, the Minister cannot simply sit on his hands.
“Now is the time to work with the transport operators you currently have, to provide a short-term solution, while a longer-term collaborative solution is developed.
“If this is currently ongoing it would be excellent for the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture, & Sport to provide a public progress update to the people of Bermuda. The Bermuda Tourism Authority can attract tourists to our shores but if we aren’t investing in our tourism product, how can we ensure that our tourist have a top tier experience and become repeat visitors? Government must do its part to ensure the success of the National Tourism Plan; the experience must match the marketing.”
The very same people who oversaw the destruction of a BTA that was once heading in the right direction, before they took over, now says that they can restore the BTA to a functioning group of people who know a thing or two about promoting tourism.
Yeah sure. We all await some results as we listen to the tree frogs.
Let’s not exaggerate, though: even at its best, the BTA’s results were underwhelming, with very modest increases of tourism in an era where tourism was growing everywhere.
The main problem with the BTA and the Tourism Department before it, was that it is outsized. The main problem with Bermuda tourism is the high prices for tourists, and yet there’s a 10% hotel tax on tourists to fund the BTA! You don’t tax tourists to attract tourists.
Reduce the BTA budget to something more in line with what other similar-sized islands spend on tourism promotion, and use the savings to reduce taxes on tourists.
Alternatively, reverse the 2018 amendment that gave the Minister the power to control the BTA and allow it to work for all of Bermuda, not just the PLP Government