Bahamian culture and entertainment will be beamed to people around the world with the success of the new television magazine, Passport to Paradise. A pilot for the television show is being taped around The Bahamas, with producers exploring options for international distribution. Preparations are underway to deliver a 12 to 16 episode series to either the network or cable channel that picks up this informative and entertaining new show. Taped segments have included shopping on famous Bay Street, “Junkanoo” festivities, and fine dining at Luciano’s. Future shows will feature other exotic spots with behind-the-scenes glimpses at what makes vacation visits all the more memorable. The show’s exciting pace is given a witty edge by beautiful host Rachael Carr, a British bombshell who has worked as a double for several stars, including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Among the many VIPs and celebrities that Passport to Paradise chose to interview for their show was Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, the Bahamian Minister of Tourism and Aviation. Supporting the show’s theme for quality locations, Minister Vanderpool-Wallace pointed out that the demographics of visitors to The Bahamas remain high quality guests who are interested in participating in a wide range of activities. In response to the current economy, The Bahamas, like other vacation destinations, has seen a decrease in travelers from distant places, so the country’s marketing strategies have changed to reflect the shift.
“You will find us spending a great deal more of our time, energy, and money in places that have non-stop flights, lower cost flights and again places closer by,” Minister Vanderpool-Wallace said. “Because you are finding almost everywhere, when you look at the fall off in business, it is from points distant from wherever the destination is. So very clearly, we are going to be in places like Florida, in the northeastern United States and other non-stop places.”
Minister Vanderpool-Wallace concluded, “Bahamas marketing will be strong as far away as London because of the non-stop service to the country. People are travelling for shorter periods, so they want to get where they are going directly, rapidly and inexpensively.”
The Passport to Paradise television show pilot is a joint project of The Tribune and USA TODAY, and is a spinoff of the Passport to Paradise Magazine, which is published by The Tribune.
