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| Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board |
| Formation | 1960s |
| Headquarters | Nassau, New Providence |
| Region served | The Bahamas |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Parent organization | Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation |
Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board
The Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board is an agency established to promote the Out Islands of The Bahamas as distinct destinations within the Caribbean, the Atlantic, and North American travel markets. It operates from Nassau on New Providence and collaborates with regional entities such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Development Bank, and international partners including the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council to position islands like Abaco Islands, Andros Island, Exuma, Long Island (Bahamas), and Eleuthera in global tourism circuits. The Board's activities intersect with national policy set by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, legislative oversight by the Parliament of the Bahamas, and regulatory regimes influenced by bodies such as the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association.
The Board traces its origins to mid-20th century initiatives that aligned with postwar travel expansion across the Caribbean Community and the broader Commonwealth of Nations; early interlocutors included the Bahamas Tourist Board and private sector stakeholders from Nassau. In the 1970s and 1980s the Board responded to trends shaped by the Jet Age, the rise of cruise tourism, and policy frameworks exemplified by the Montréal Declaration (UNWTO) that emphasized sustainable development. Its evolution reflects interactions with disaster response demands after events such as Hurricane Dorian (2019) and earlier storms that affected Grand Bahama, prompting coordination with agencies like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
The Board’s mandate encompasses destination marketing, product development, and capacity building for Out Islands such as Cat Island (Bahamas), Crooked Island, and Ragged Island. It executes strategic plans that align with international instruments like the Sustainable Development Goals and technical assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank. Core functions include liaising with airlines such as Bahamasair and regional carriers, supporting port authorities including the Nassau Harbour Development Company, and convening stakeholders like the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce to increase airlift, marine access, and niche markets such as eco-tourism tied to natural assets like the Andros Barrier Reef and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Governance structures involve appointed members drawn from industry, local government, and civil society, operating under the oversight of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas and the Cabinet of the Bahamas. The Board coordinates with statutory entities including the Tourism Development Corporation and statutory planning agencies such as the Town Planning Department (Bahamas). Leadership has historically included figures with links to private-sector associations like the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation and international networks including the Organization of American States for regional development programming.
Promotional campaigns target feeder markets in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Brazil through partnerships with travel trade shows such as ITB Berlin, World Travel Market, and Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Initiatives have included themed product development—angler tourism linked to IGFA records, sport-fishing circuits associated with personalities from the Fishing Hall of Fame, and eco-certification aligned with standards like those promoted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Digital outreach leverages relationships with hospitality brands, tour operators like Sandals Resorts competitors, and niche operators facilitating access to sites such as Dean's Blue Hole and Thunderball Grotto.
The Board measures outcomes in visitor arrivals, cruise calls recorded by the Cruise Lines International Association, and spending patterns influencing sectors represented by the Bahamas Bankers Association and the National Insurance Board (Bahamas). Its work supports livelihoods in Out Islands including cottage industries, artisanal fisheries connected to FAO guidance, and small-scale hospitality enterprises registered with the Company Registry of the Bahamas. The Board’s efforts intersect with trade negotiations affecting travel facilitation with partners like the United States Department of Transportation and regional economic planning through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Funding streams combine government allocations through the Ministry of Finance (Bahamas), donor support from organizations like the Inter-American Development Bank, and private-sector co-investment from hospitality investors and regional banks such as the Scotiabank Bahamas. Strategic partnerships include collaboration with conservation NGOs like The Nature Conservancy, academic links with institutions such as the University of the West Indies, and marketing alliances with airlines and cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Corporation & plc.
Critiques have addressed allocation of public funds overseen by the Auditor General of the Bahamas, debates over development pressures in fragile ecosystems like Andros Island’s wetlands, and tensions with local councils in settlements across Acklins and Crooked Island concerning land use and benefit distribution. Controversies have also involved disputes over procurement practices subject to the Public Procurement Act (Bahamas) and scrutiny by media outlets including national newspapers based in Nassau and regional broadcasters. Calls for greater transparency have prompted engagement with international accountability norms promoted by the International Monetary Fund and anti-corruption frameworks championed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Category:Tourism in the Bahamas