ABACO TOURIST OFFICE UPDATE
by Wynsome Ferguson
After going to Long Island for the past three years to shoot their TV swimwear, Burdines chose to check out a few more of our islands. In November Kathy Graham, Producer Burdines Photo Shoot, and Grace Hart-Caron came to Abaco scouting, looking for a location to conduct Burdines' commercial shoot this year. As a result of Ms Graham's visit, they decided to do their shoot here in Abaco. A team of fifteen persons came with Ms Graham from 29th January to 1st February for this event. They were very impressed with the island, the weather and the fact that Abaco had so much to offer. They did shots at Treasure Cay, Hope Town, Tahiti Beach and Abaco Beach Resort. They were so impressed with Abaco they plan to come back in March to do their print shots for Burdines' catalogue. The island of Abaco not only received great publicity from this project but also provided employment for a few Abaconians.
The Abaco Tourist Office had an opportunity to visit Castaway Cay on 31st January. Castaway Cay is the cay that Disney Cruise Lines developed to bring their cruise ships to. However, there has been some setback as a storm passed through and caused extensive damage to the island. According to an American bridge representative who is responsible for the construction of the island, they have until 28th February to complete the job and this demand is going to be very difficult because of the damages. The island has been transformed very beautifully, with a number of bars and restaurants, an entertainment area, water sports and boat rentals, Disney characters, a spa, several beaches, Disney retail shops, local Bahamian craft shops, a fishing area, etc. A staff quarters has also been constructed for persons employed by Disney Cruise Line, who are required to live on the island. Disney will start off with one cruise ship beginning the second or third week in April with a second one to come soon after.
The graduation ceremony of the 14th Bahamahost 1st Sandy Point Session was held on Sunday 1st February at Mount Zion Native Baptist Church. A total of 55 persons graduated, from teenagers to grandmothers. Giving brief remarks were Mr Preston Cunningham, deputy island Administrator, Bahamahost Overview by Beverly Saunders, Senior Manager Training, and the principal address was given by Hon Robert Sweeting, Member of Parliament for South Abaco. Also attending the ceremony were Senator the Hon Michael Bethel and Mrs Bethel, and Island Administrator Mr Everette Hart. The top honours went to Mrs Ruth Flowers and Mr Paul Pinder.
The Abaco Tourist Office held a meeting with the Industry Partners of Northern Abaco on Thursday 5th February at the SC Bootle Secondary School. The points discussed and agreed to at the meeting were: 1. Facelift at the Treasure Cay Airport; 2. Entertainment at the Treasure Cay Airport; 3. Bahamahost Programme; 4. People-To-People Programme. The meeting was very well attended and the response received was excellent. In attendance at this meeting were Mr Joseph Norris, Chief Councillor, Members of the Tourism Advisory and Economic Committees, North Abaco Hoteliers, Airline Personnel, representatives from the North District Council and businessmen from the area.
Mr Frank Lamb, Sales Manager of Outdoor Media Group Inc, who are the publishers of Florida Fish & Game Finder magazine, visited Abaco hoping to add an Abaco section to their magazine, and is hoping to extend this to the other islands of The Bahamas. According to Mr Lamb, this magazine has been in existence for some 25 years and is very popular all over the world. He claims that so far the response is excellent and if it should continue this way, the islands of The Bahamas will eventually have their own magazine.
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