Tourism Manager Says Uptick in Cruise Business Will Boost Grand Bahamas' Economy
Johnson encourages residents to become more creative in production of crafts to derive greater benefit from economic growth
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – 30 March 2022 – Grand Bahama’s shopping mecca, Port Lucaya Marketplace, saw a significant day on March 30, when over 500 cruise travelers from four cruise ships — the Norwegian Pearl, the Norwegian Sky, The Ocean Voyager and the Grand Classica — flocked to the shopping emporium, which features 20 retail stores including boutiques selling hand-crafted souvenirs, jewelry outlets, art galleries, bars and restaurants.
The day of high-volume business at the Port Lucaya Marketplace attracted not only hundreds of cruise guests, but also Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, Grand Bahama Office General Manager, Steven Johnson, who stopped by the Port Lucaya entrance and proudly witnessed the influx of visitor traffic, sales transactions and hospitable interactions between the visitors and shop vendors. He deemed the shopping scene at Port Lucaya Marketplace very encouraging, and remarked that it foreshadowed the economic uptick to come to Grand Bahama this year.
Johnson said, “This is a great day here in Port Lucaya. We had over 500 people who came through the area throughout the course of the day. We just left The Celebrity Eco Tours in Deadman’s Reef and they had about 450 people to experience their swimming with the pigsactivity. So, this was a great day, and this is exactly what we need for Grand Bahama.”
Johnson further remarked: “Deputy Prime Minister, the Honorable I. Chester Cooper and the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Honorable Ginger Moxey, spoke about the objective of bringing people into the Port Lucaya area to spread some love in the economy. The government is looking forward to further collaboration with the Ministry of Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, and all the other industry partners to attract additional cruise ships to Grand Bahama. The increase in visitors will ensure the overall growth of our island’s economy and provide a much needed shot in the arm for businesses in the Port Lucaya Marketplace.
Johnson also expressed those local businesses are to be inspired by the increase in visitor arrivalsto the island and should begin producing more authentic souvenirs and crafts and bringing more business ideas to market to generate increased sales.