Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page 60) DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN & BAHAMAS THE SLOT SPOT: WHERE BOTH QUALITY and quantity are concerned, it’s safe to say the Bahamas is the king of the island casino world. And with the anticipated arrival of Foxwoods Development Company, this king just got upgraded to an ace. Grand Bahama Island is on the verge of a major redevelopment project that will bring Foxwoods, the famous Connecticut-based casino powerhouse, to its shores. Foxwoods will take over the former Royal Oasis Resort, which was destroyed by hurricanes in 2004. The property will get a new name and a new face and most likely serve as another great selling —DAVID JOHNSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, point for your wagering clients. THE BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM Travel Agent spoke with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Deputy Director General, David Johnson, to learn exactly how important this addition will be to tourism in the Bahamas. Does Las Vegas Have to Worry? “Gaming is an important attraction or With the addition of Foxwoods, however, don’t amenity, and in the case of Atlantis, they have expect a casino invasion to hit the Bahamas. been extremely successful as operators, much “Although [it’s] important as a major more so than the other players to date,” Johnson amenity, we have a limited number of casinos told us. “Are the casinos drawing visitors to the within the Bahamas,” Johnson says. “There are Bahamas? The answer is ‘yes’ and largely because two licenses in Nassau and Paradise Island and of their powerful direct-marketing programs and two licenses that have been activated in Grand their offerings of more activities, more nightlife, Bahama Island, which has been the case for the etc., [which] many visitors are seeking.” past 40 years or so. We added a fifth casino— Island Casino Insider Foxwoods—a safe bet for Bahamas tourism BY JOE PIKE “” “Are the casinos drawing visitors to the Bahamas? The answer is ‘yes’ and largely because of their powerful direct-marketing programs and their offerings of more activities, more nightlife etc., [which] many visitors are seeking. ” the first in an Out Island setting—at the Four Seasons in Exuma that functions as a small private facility within the resort. “It would be misleading to suggest that this is the tip of the iceberg of sorts,” Johnson continues, “as there is no strong push to position the Bahamas as a casino-driven tourism destination…rather, [our goal is] to maintain the casinos as strong amenities of the major facilities within Nassau and Grand Bahama, where our tourism traffic is sufficiently dense.” If the Foxwoods property draws the same amount of guests as the Royal Oasis did, expect it to be a hot spot to send your clients. “The Royal Oasis represented almost one-third of total room inventory and almost 30 percent of the GDP from tourism on the island,” Johnson notes. “It was a second-anchor resort for the island and one with a comprehensive marketing program that extended into their own sponsored airlift program. In short, it was very important and served as a strong draw for tourism to Grand Bahama Island.” The Royal Oasis closed in September 2004 after being severely damaged by hurricanes 60 | TravelAgent March 31, 2008
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