3 December 2019, Agaba, Jordan – Czech Republic and Bahamas sign MOU on air service.
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The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Hosts Top-Tier Media and Influencers Post Hurricane Dorian
Nassau, Bahamas,– In the months following Hurricane Dorian, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (BMOTA) has mobilized and set up a steady stream of group and individual familiarization trips to continue telling the world that The Bahamas is “Open For Business.” From November 2019 into the New Year, top-tier media and social influencers are coming to The Islands Of The Bahamas to discover the country’s culture, cuisine and communities and help spread the message that most of the islands are welcoming visitors.
The trips will drive positive and educational coverage of the destination, in print, online and social media, during the critical travel-booking season.
Ready, Set, Submit! Government Launches Programme to Make Services More Efficient & Faster Online
The Bahamas has officially launched a digital transformation programme that will make it possible for all major Government services to be accessed online.
The program dubbed, “The Government’s Digital Transformation To Strengthen Competitiveness” is being funded by a $30 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and will be implemented in phases over a six-year period.
Its main aim is to remove delays and “red tape” that citizens and business interests encounter when doing business with the government. This is a challenge which has deterred foreign investors and challenged local entrepreneurship, resulting in delayed economic growth in The Bahamas.
In 2018, The Bahamas ranked 119 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report due to the difficulties to conduct business activities. The digitization process is expected to improve this ranking thus attracting international and local business.
The country’s financial services sector which currently contributes some 15 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product is also set to benefit as the time to incorporate a business will be reduced.
Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Trade Mission in Canada (Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto) from November 17 to 22.
Orange Ribbon Pinning at House of Assembly
The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Department of Gender & Family Affairs, in collaboration with the National Women’s Advisory Council and the community of Non-governmental Women’s Organizations in The Bahamas are holding National Observance of the Women’s Suffrage Movement from 24 to 30 November, 2019 under the theme: “Accelerating the Advancement of Women in Politics 57 years later”.
Simultaneously, from 25 November, which is the International Day to End Violence Against Women, to 10 December, which is the International Human Rights Day, there is observation of the ‘United Nations 16 Days of Activism to end Violence against Women.’
Grand Bahama Welcomes First Official International Flight Since Hurricane Dorian
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, November 26, 2019 — It was an exciting day for Grand Bahama on Tuesday, November 26, as the island welcomed its first official international flight to the Fixed Based Operators (FBO) at Grand Bahama International Airport since the passing of Hurricane Dorian. Representatives from The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (BMOT
A), Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Grand Bahama Airport Company, Bahamas Customs and Immigration and the Royal Bahamas Police Force all assembled on the tarmac Tuesday afternoon to welcome the inbound Bahamasair Boeing 737 Jet. The capacity flight departed Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee bringing 138 passengers, all of whom are on island for the 21st Annual Tabernacle Falcons Thanksgiving Basketball Classic.
Press Release – Prime Minister Minnis Welcomes Continued Support from United Nations
During a meeting with United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Ms. Mariko Kagoshima about relief and reconstruction efforts on Grand Bahama and Abaco, Prime Minister Minnis welcomed the offer of assistance by the United Nations for Haitian residents affected by Hurricane Dorian.
The Prime Minister and Ms. Kagoshima discussed what role the UN can play to help Haitian residents displaced by the hurricane and relief initiatives being spearheaded by UN agencies, including: UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization), WFP (World Food Programme) and the IOM (International Organization for Migration).
During the meeting held on Monday 25 November, Prime Minster Minnis emphasised that undocumented residents will be treated humanely.
He noted that all residents affected by Hurricane Dorian were provided with shelter, food and other social assistance regardless of immigration status following the storm, and repatriations were suspended for a period of time.
Women’s Groups Converge ‘Downtown’ for Launch of 16 Days of Activism Campaign
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Representatives from women’s and other organizations across The Bahamas gathered “downtown” in Parliament Square Monday for the Launch of 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.
Mrs. Patricia Minnis, Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, cuts the orange ribbon signaling the official start of 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in The Bahamas during the Launch, Monday, November 25, in Parliament Square. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
The 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins annually on November 25, a day that is observed globally as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and ends on December 10, which is observed as Human Rights Day.
Representatives of the Zonta Club of New Providence, the Zonta Club of Nassau, S.M.A.R.T. Women, the National Women’s Advisory Council (NWAC), Princess Court Ministries, Teen Life Skills Services, Women of Strength, Kiwanis Club of New Providence, the National Congress of Trade Unions and its Women’s Association, and many other stakeholders and partners attended the Launch along with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and the Department of Gender and Family Affairs/Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, as they “took over” Parliament Square for the Launch.
Government Makes Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence by 2030; Campbell Outlines Plan of Action
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas has committed to doing all in its power to end Gender-Based Violence in the Commonwealth by the Year 2030, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, said Monday.
Representatives from female organizations across The Bahamas at the Launch of the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, held Monday (November 25, 2019) in Rawson Square. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
Addressing the 2019 Launch of the Sixteen Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls held in Rawson Square, Minister Campbell said the commitment was made by himself on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas while attending the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) 25th Anniversary Meeting.
Minister Campbell, was accompanied to ICPD 25 by the Hon. Brensil A. Rolle, Minister for the Public Service and National Insurance, and Mrs. Elaine Sands, Gender-Based Violence Expert in the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. The Conference took place November 12-14 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Bahamas: On the Way Back and Open for Business
The best way to help the Bahamas is to visit the Bahamas. And to send your clients there.
The message from Bahamas Tourism officials in Toronto was extremely clear at a Thursday lunch.
When Hurricane Dorian slammed into the northern islands of the Bahamas on September 1, it unleashed 48 hours of catastrophic damage. Tourism officials on Thursday showed videos of the hurricane’s wrath to journalists and travel trade types.
That damage, however, is only part of the story. Some hotels in the northern Bahamas have already re-opened. But the bigger issue is that MOST of the Bahamas weren’t affected by Dorian at all.
Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar jokingly called reports of the Bahamas demise “fake news.”
On a more serious note, the minister noted that the island nation is almost 1,000 kilometers long. The hurricane was only 125 km’s in diameter and only hit the most northerly islands in the archipelago. Popular tourist spots such as Paradise Island and Baha Mar on Nassau weren’t affected. Ditto for Exuma Cay, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Bimini and other popular destinations for visitors. The famous swimming pigs of Exuma barely batted an eyelash when Dorian arrived.
D’Aguilar said more than 50% of the Bahamas Gross Domestic Product comes from tourism and that two of three jobs in the island nation are tourism related.
“About 90% of the tourism infrastructure was not impacted” by Dorian, he said. “We’re still ready to welcome visitors and still able to deliver the tropical getaway they’re dreaming of.”
Officials said Canadian visits were up 14% in 2018 and that Canadian tourism numbers were up 10% in 2019 when the hurricane hit. Inquires slumped right after the storm, but interest in visiting the Bahamas is picking up nicely.
“There’s no better time to go to the Bahamas than now,” D’Aguilar said. “The best way to help the Bahamas is to the visit the Bahamas.”
The Bahamas has a number of distinct regions and attractions, ranging from those famous swimming pigs on Exuma to the quiet and solitude of Long Island. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours on Eluethera about 14 months ago and found it a magical island with surprising geography and super-friendly locals.
The Bahamas also are easy to reach, with three-hour, non-stop flights from eastern Canada.
From: TravelPulse Canada