NASSAU, Bahamas — In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday warned Bahamians to prepare for an economic calamity that will exceed that of Hurricane Dorian, as the global tourism industry shuts down.
As he addressed the House of Assembly in what he said was one of the most painful speeches he’ll ever make, D’Aguilar revealed that there are no bookings for the foreseeable future, the Nassau Guardian reported on March 19.
“The simple, yet, inconceivable reality we all need to grasp is that there will be no tourists,” he said. “It is fundamental that we as Bahamians understand both the short and long-term impacts COVID-19 will have on our tourism industry.”
He added, “Life as we know it will be fundamentally uprooted for the next 30, 60, 90 days. To convince ourselves otherwise would be of profound detriment to the collective struggle we as Bahamians have begun to mount, and will continue to mount, against COVID-19 in the coming months.”
D’Aguilar noted that The Bahamas’ reliance on the tourism industry makes it particularly vulnerable.
“International travel restrictions, airline and event cancelations, and the perceived risks of global travel, even as the world comes to grips with COVID-19, will significantly slow The Bahamas’ economic turnaround,” he said. “[H]otels will be vacant. Ports will be deserted. Streets will be empty. The lifeblood of our country will be devoid of the many millions of foreign visitors that are so economically impactful in our everyday lives. We are facing an economic calamity that will almost certainly exceed that of Hurricane Dorian, the most powerful hurricane to ever strike The Bahamas.” See compete Nassau Guardian story at https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/03/19/there-will-be-no-tourists/
