NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas should urgently handle the crime state of affairs, based on a former Tourism Minister who warned that if the state of affairs continues to worsen, the fallout on the nation’s tourism sector might be extreme.
Dionisio D’Aguilar, the previous Tourism Minister underneath the Minnis administration, famous that the current US journey advisory could not have an instantaneous influence on guests who’ve already booked to this vacation spot however warned that if the state of affairs goes unchecked and continues to worsen, it might influence potential guests’ notion in regards to the security of the nation.
“Crime is impacting the lives of Bahamians and encroaching into areas frequented by guests, which is regarding. There are troubling traits in crime, with murders occurring at an alarming charge. Whereas I’m not an expert in policing and don’t know the options, many consultants in our nation perceive what must be completed. The notion, whether or not rightly or wrongly, is that crime is worsening,” D’Aguilar advised Eyewitness Information.
“At this stage, it could have little influence when most reservations are already booked, however it’s a slippery slope. If the state of affairs deteriorates or fails to enhance, these points turn out to be like most cancers. If it worsens unchecked, the influence shall be vital. An American traveler could rethink visiting The Bahamas, choosing a perceived safer vacation spot of their Caribbean journey. Whereas it’s at the moment not severely impacting tourism, if the state of affairs isn’t addressed, it would worsen.”
The US State Division has intensified its language to guests over the weekend, warning Individuals to “train excessive warning when touring to The Bahamas because of crime.” The US State Division issued a “Safety Alert” to its residents visiting The Bahamas on January 24, 2024; nevertheless, simply days later, that journey warning was elevated to a “Journey Advisory,” because the nation recorded two extra murders on Friday night time and early Saturday morning.
Worldwide media homes just like the New York Submit, which printed the Journey Advisory, stated: “Assume twice a couple of tropical getaway to the Caribbean this winter.”
“Security considerations have reached a degree of severity the place US officers say folks shouldn’t even attempt to ‘bodily resist’ being robbed.”
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs, in response to the journey advisory, stated in a press release: “The Authorities of The Bahamas has taken notice of a variety of advisories about private safety points when vacationers journey to The Bahamas. Whereas we acknowledge that states have a proper to tell their residents touring overseas about potential dangers, we don’t consider that there’s any elevated or elevated safety threat to vacationers touring to The Bahamas.
“We encourage all of our guests to come back to The Bahamas. We consider that anybody visiting The Bahamas for tourism or enterprise ought to take the conventional prudent precautions that any customer to a big metropolis within the developed world will take.
