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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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food vendors celebrate festival's success By INDERIA SAUNDERS ~ Guardian Business Reporter ~ inderia@nasguard.com: A slash in the number of stalls — and the removal of competition from Arawak Cay restaurants — appears to have cooked up stronger sales for vendors at this year's Junkanoo Summer Festival (JSF) — that despite depressed foot-traffic. It's an about-face from previous years when Bahamian spectators were the mainstay of the event and tourists just an added bonus. "I don't think a lot of Bahamians know it has moved [to Woodes Rodgers Wharf]," said Mervin Sweeting, proprietor of a switcher stall at the festival. "Sales are good, but I think sales would be better if more Bahamians came out." And so says Kenva Jones from the Andros food stall, nonetheless realizing a 20 percent increase in sales at Saturday's opening compared to the same period last year at Arawak Cay. "I think [our success] has a lot to do with there being not as much stalls out as last year," she said. "That's less competition for us. "But once we get word out this week, it will be better, it would be a plus for our business." Their comments follow the inaugural week of the transplanted festival, which in recent years was held at Arawak Cay. The Ministry of Tourism plucked the festival from that locale this year, placing it closer to where cruise passengers come off the boat. It's a strategic move that comes as this country struggles with sluggish growth in stopover visitor arrivals. Still, Jones and Sweeting are counting on Tourism to increase advertising of the festival in the upcoming days to boost local traffic. It could result in an even greater boost to their businesses even as most local restaurants see declines in profits. While Guardian Business understands the ministry's move to reduce the number of stalls available to vendors from 20 to 12 was inspired by the smaller location, it is unclear whether it also aimed to win the greater returns bidders like Jones are now reporting. Unlike in years past, they are not in direct competition with Arawak Cay restaurateurs, who charge the move to Woodes Rodger will cut 20 percent from their summer revenue. That notwithstanding, this year's vetting process has raised questions about fairness — ones a Tourism official moved quickly to clear up Monday. "We did it through taste testing," said the official. "All vendors that applied had to come out and bring a sample of their food. . .even drinks and the decisions were made from that." It fell to the Bahamas Culinary Association and three chefs heading the taste tests to decide which of the vendors would make the grade. The process was meant to remove any appearance of nepotism at a time when more and more vendors are in fact angling for fewer and fewer selling opportunities. The process is also likely to accrue to the benefit of tourists looking for the best sampling of native cuisine. Still, many tourists are just as hungry for interaction with Bahamians. The change of venue may stymie that. Jones believes the apparent lack of parking in the downtown area will be one of the factors keeping Bahamians away from the festival and believes Tourism should hang signs declaring designated JSF parking spots. "If they're (afforded) different parking locations," she said, "I think Bahamians will come." Tuesday, July 7, 2009