Column: Robinson On Tourism, Investment, More
[Opinion column written by MP Dwayne Robinson]
Recently, my colleague, the Shadow Minister of Finance Dr. Doug De Couto delivered the One Bermuda Alliance’s reply to the Progressive Labour Party’s 2026/2027 budget statement.
I encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Now allow me a moment to discuss tourism.
Our tourism product has struggled to rebound since the Covid-19 global pandemic and has not returned to its 2019 numbers. There is no denying the profoundly negative impact the pandemic had on tourism globally, along with overall recent global instability, however comparable jurisdictions have rebounded and are showing tremendous growth.
- Turks & Caicos has grown its air visitors 50% since 2019
- The Tourism Analytics industry news site reports 12 new developments in TCI over the next two years, and another six between 2028 and 2030
- The Cayman Islands increased its air arrivals from 2024 to 2025
- The Bahamas is only down 2% from its pre-COVID levels
Bermuda in contrast, total vacation and business visitors remain 17% below 2019 levels and 11% below 2024. Our total air arrivals remain 30% below 2019 and 3.4% below 2024.
These numbers are sobering and can be attributed to many reasons. The Progressive Labour party has been unable to attract new investors to our shores, and our bed capacity has decreased. With a global shortage of pilots and resources, airlines are being forced to prioritise stronger markets, making Bermuda’s situation even harder to remedy.
The re-opening of Fairmont Southampton and the new Loren at Elbow Beach will assist with this but returning our lost beds isn’t enough; we must increase them.
Some might point to our visitor spending increasing to $550 million as a potential bright spot. Increased spending is always a good thing on the surface but the 10% decrease in arrivals gives us the other side of the coin. Is that increase in spending translating into profit for the hospitality and tourism industry or is it a result of rising costs?
With the industry grappling with staffing shortages, increasing costs of doing business, and razor thin profit margins, I would say the increase in spending has not translated well for us as a tourism product.
The Minister of Economy and Labour has moved room attendants and bartenders out of the closed job category and into the restricted category. This will be a welcomed change for businesses who have struggled to find Bermudians to fill these roles. However, Government must be careful not to erode the bargaining power or preferential treatment of Bermudian workers within the hospitality industry. All eligible and employable Bermudians who wish to enter tourism or hospitality must be given an opportunity.
If we truly do not have enough Bermudians on island who are interested or can afford to pursue these roles, that speaks to much greater issues.
The One Bermuda Alliance has long called for more capital investment from Government to assist the efforts of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Expanding our meetings, incentives, conference capacity to assist Fairmont Southampton in recapturing this crucial market for Bermuda. Investing in our cultural scene and arts industry by building a performance centre along with other supporting concert locations to reinvigorate our night life and encourage growth in our creative industry.
Another budget has gone by and even with record profit due to the CIT, the Government has not pledged to carry forward these investments. Our creativity and entrepreneurial spirit are critical to increasing our high season duration, we must cultivate it. That is why the One Bermuda Alliance suggested a stipend for local artists and performers, similar to Ireland’s recent Basic Income for the Arts. We need more than tourism investment orders and grant funding to provide amenities on island, though it’s a start.
Making sure we always look like a premier destination by maintaining our public roads, tribe roads, street lighting, foliage, public beaches and other public attractions. As a Southampton Member of Parliament, I cannot miss the opportunity to mention the need for Gibbs Hill Lighthouse to receive attention. This will benefit Bermudians and tourists alike.
I am glad to see some of our advocacy has led to the Government taking on some of our funding allocation suggestions.
I welcome the proposed additional $500,000 for additional workers and machinery to address the foliage, improving road safety, and the island’s overall appearance. Along with the proposed injection of $4.5 million to preserve and revitalise public assets even though St. Davids Lighthouse was mentioned, and Gibb’s Hill wasn’t, I expect it to be included.
There is also a proposed $1.7 million for restoration of national parks and public lands. These large injections of funds are a good thing but point to a long period of neglect, and the PLP is playing catch up on its infrastructure responsibilities. How much could have been saved with proper long-term management of these basic duties of Government?
These funding injections must also signal a turning point for proper maintenance of our island and its infrastructure, as the Progressive Labour Party should not neglect these important duties for another eight years.
- Dwayne Robinson, One Bermuda Alliance MP for Constituency 30, Southampton East Central
