From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas Tourism blitz underway in Canada
By Rissie Demeritte, Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism
Nov 19, 2019 - 12:30:59 PM
Ellison Tommy Thompson- BMOTA Deputy Director General;
Charnelle Brown, Deputy High Commissioner;
Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation;
Joy Jibrilu, BMOTA Director General;
Paul Strachan, BTO Canada Director
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Efforts to strengthen relationship between Bahamas and Canada expected to yield positive results with media blitz in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto
Vancouver, Canada ( November 18th, 2019) – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation delegates lead by Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, as well as numerous industry partners took media outlets and tour operators in Canada on a whirlwind tour of the Islands of the Bahamas, solidifying the messaging of the Bahamas being a viable destination for the Canadian tourists, despite the impact of Hurricane Dorian.
“Following Hurricane Dorian, we felt that it was absolutely critical to come and let the Canadian market know that we are open for business and to introduce The Bahamas to new aspects of the Canadian market,” remarked Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Director General, Joy Jibrilu, “as far west as Vancouver, there is huge potential to market the country.”
Canada is the second largest country in the world and the second largest source market for visitor arrivals to The Bahamas next to the United States. Throughout the first seven months of 2019 an estimated 3.7 million Canadian arrivals to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America representing a YOY increase of 4.3%. Canadian visitor arrivals to The Bahamas increased by 14% YOY in 2017-2018. During the months of January through September, Canadian arrivals paced 10.5% ahead of the same in 2018.
“The tourism industry had an historic year in 2018 and has maintained momentum right up to Dorian’s arrival. International arrivals to the Bahamas increased by just over 13% in August, including 2.1% growth from Canada. Air capacity from Canada was up 7% and fall bookings were looking strong,” remarked D’Aguilar, “it’s not business as usual in the Bahamas – that will be years away but this is a major step to be present in the Canadian market to regain momentum.”
Ministry of Tourism officials are hopeful that the media blitz will strengthen sales efforts and add an intimate appeal to the Canadian tourist to visit the Bahamas. “We’ve had a record-breaking year with the Canadian market, and we are looking to continue that trend,” stated Jibrilu.
L-R ( seated)
Ursula Maxwell -Lewis, Freelance Writer;
Ellison Tommy Thompson- BMOTA Deputy Director General;
Fiona Morrow, Editor, MonteCristo Magazine;
Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation;
Biance Bujan, Freelance Writer;
Joy Jibrilu, BMOTA Director General;
Charnelle Brown, Deputy High Commissioner;
Paul Strachan, BTO Canda Director;
Carmel Churchhill, Sales Manager, Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board
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Joining this promotional expedition with the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism & Aviation included Fred Lounsberry, CEO, Nassau
Paradise Island Promotion Board, Karin Salinas, Senior Vice President
of Marketing for Baha Mar, Ana Cerna, Director of International
Marketing for Rosewood Baha Mar, Bryan Gay Sr. Vice President of Sales
at Atlantis Paradise Island, Sydney Engel, Director of Public Relations
for Atlantis Paradise Island, Amy Mecl, Vice President Leisure Sales for
Atlantis Paradise Island, Franco Pill Vice President of Business
Development for Atlantis Paradise Island, Yasmine Strachan Director of
Sales, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Sobieda Feliz, Director of Sales
Warwick Paradise Island, Phillippe Gringas, Associate Director of Sales,
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Lilly Carr, Leisure Sales Manager, Rosewood Baha
Mar, Cristina Diaz, Leisure Sales Manager, Melia, James Burrows, Group
Sales Manager, SLS Baha Mar, Robert Garzaroli, Principle, Graycliff
Hotel & Restaurant, Elaine and Brent Carnegie, Nassau Paradise
Island Promotion Board, Regia Knowles, Director of Operations Sunrise
Beach Club, Hedda Smith, Sales Manager, Superclub Breezes, L’Oreal
Sweeting, Out Islands Promotion Board, Jeff Todd, Communications
Manager, Grand Isle Resort & Spa, Barbara Dirnberger, National Sales
Manager, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines, Carmel Churchill, Sales
Manager, Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Barbara Spychalla,
Operations Manager, Valentines Resort & Marina, William Saunders Jr.
Director, Majestic Tours Bahamas, Juan Moss, CEO Leisure Travel and
Tours, Michael Symonette, CEO, Bahamas Experience Tours, Juan Carlos
Ruiz, Sales Manager Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach, Craig Thomas Director of
Sales and Marketing, Margaritaville Bahamas, Donne Nixon, Business
Development Manager Sandals Resorts, Krista Cardona Sales Manager, Air
Canada Vacations, Emily Spadafora, Andrei Losinski and Christopher
Brothers, Sales Managers WestJet Vacations, Lorraine Brisbois corporate
manager, Sunwing Vacations and Nancy Drolet Business Development
Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organization
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