The Ministry of Tourism is investing in future growth and development through the ongoing training of staff members. Watch an interview with Pamela Parker-Moss, assistant manager of human resources at the Ministry of Tourism.
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Baha Mar is going to give The Bahamas the “X factor,” according to Atlantis International Bahamas president George Markantonis, who says there is room for both the new mega-resort and the existing Atlantis Paradise Island resort.

Speaking at the Bahamas Business Outlook yesterday Markantonis said the $3.5-billion Baha Mar complex, which will bring six new hotels to the Cable Beach strip, was good news for the country and would attract new visitors to the destination–something that he believes will ultimately benefit both resorts.

“Both [Atlantis and Baha Mar] are attractive, exotic travel locations in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We can co-exist,” he said.

Markantonis said management from both resorts have teamed up to hold discussions with other major players in the tourism sector, such as the Ministry of Tourism and airline representatives.

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This is an excerpt from Chart of the Day as it appeared on January 11, 2013. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

Go to the source of this post >

This is an excerpt from Chart of the Day as it appeared on January 11, 2013. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

Go to the source of this post >

Last year was a record year for Routes with more delegates than ever before attending its World and Regional Route Development Forums, despite the challenging macro-economic climate and considerable headwinds for the aviation industry.

A record number of over 5,500 delegates attended the seven events that Routes organized around the globe in 2012.

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After constructing some 84 homes in Phase 1 of development, officials of the luxury Balmoral residential community anticipate a bright 2013, as they prepare to start Phase 2 of the development. Watch a ZNS news report here.
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 2013 /PRNewswire/ — “The global advance toward economic freedom has ground to a halt,” according to the editors of the 19th annual Index of Economic Freedom, released today by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.

The world average score of 59.6 was only one-tenth of a point above the 2012 average. Since reaching a global peak in 2008, the editors note, economic freedom has continued to stagnate. The overall trend for last year, however, was positive: Among the 177 countries ranked in the 2013 Index, scores improved for 91 countries and declined for 78.

On the plus side, average government spending scores improved. Unfortunately, this was matched by a decline in regulatory efficiency, as a number of countries hiked minimum wages and tightened control of labor markets.

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Despite the recent downturn, the government is optimistic about The Bahamas’ economic future due to developments in the construction and tourism industry, Prime Minister Perry Christie (pictured) said today.

Speaking at the 22nd Annual Bahamas Business Outlook event this morning, the Prime Minister said: “In the wake of the seismic economic crisis that has gripped the world’s economy over the past seven years, our small economy is still confronting economic challenges. The Bahamian economy remained on a modest, though consistent, growth trajectory in 2012.”

Minister Christie said he was optimistic for 2013 however, with continued interest in foreign direct investment in real estate, and developments across New Providence such as Baha Mar, redevelopment of the downtown Bay Street area, the South Ocean resort and expansion of the Hilton Hotel injecting growth.

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The Bahamas is seeking to attract a greater level of airlift and to increase the number of stopover visitors in 2013 from 1.6 million to 1.8 million, according to Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe.

Minister Wilchcombe made the comments during a Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace press conference at Atlantis, January 9, 2013.

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Officials at BTC have said that by early this year they will have completed an upgrade of the entire mobile network platform in The Bahamas. Watch a ZNS news report here.
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