More fishing business for Bahamas

By Gladstone Thurston

A leading sports fishing agency has pledged more business for the Bahamas following a key meeting with Financial Services and Investments Minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson.

"We are anxious to do anything we can to support the policy and strategy for furthering fishing tourism in the Bahamas while not depleting the resource," said Mike Fitzgerald chairman of Frontiers out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Fitzgerald, his programme manager for the Bahamas and Brazil, Hank Ingram, and managing director, Tarquin Millington-Drake, met with Minister Maynard-Gibson, Hotel Corporation's managing director Dr Baltron Bethel and the nine-member Bahamian delegation during last weekend's Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo in Denver, Colorado.

They addressed mutual concerns, from illegal sports fishing to the standard of guides to the quality of service to conservation measures.

Also representing the Bahamas were Benjamin Pratt of the Ministry of Tourism, Prescott Smith of the Stafford Creek Bone Fish Lodge, Andros, master fly-fishing guide David Pinder out of McClean's Town, Grand Bahama, Capt Percy Darville out of the Berry Islands, Kendall Williamson of Grey's Point Bonefish Inn, Acklins, and conservationist Eric Carey of the Bahamas National Trust.

Representing a number of fishing lodges throughout the islands, Frontiers has been sending clients to the Bahamas since the mid-1970s.

According to its statistics, over the last eight years, Frontiers has generated $2 million in sales to the Bahamas annually.

"Sports fishing in the Bahamas is a wonderful opportunity for every American light tackle or offshore fisherman," said Fitzgerald. "Certainly it ranks high in the world of popular destinations."

While Frontiers maintains an exclusive relationship with the Mangrove Cay Club on Andros, other lodges benefit from its bookings and extensive knowledge of the industry, said Fitzgerald.

During the 2002 season, Frontiers said it booked 338 anglers at the Mangrove Cay Club out of about 998 guests it sent to the Bahamas.

"Additionally, it is estimated that up to 35 per cent of guests sent to the Bahamas by Frontiers are participating in extended stays or over-nights at non-fishing Bahamian resorts on various islands."

Whereas the Bahamas "certainly has the potential" to grow its fishing travel business, Fitzgerald pointed to "significant competition" throughout the Caribbean and the Atlantic and locales farther away.

"In order to see significant growth in the Bahamas in the coming years," said Fitzgerald, "the booking agents, independent guides, lodges and the government must be prepared to compete in the global market with quality lodges, with experienced outfitters and guides, and with a service and accommodation infrastructure that is on par with other destinations."

The travel industry, he said, "is notoriously sensitive" to economic and political instability as has been witnessed by the downturn in the market since Sept. 11, 2001.

"Recovery is, however, well underway and the long-term outlook for outdoor activities vacations, including fly fishing, is optimistic," said Fitzgerald.

Caption: GROUPS — Financial Services and Investments Minister Allyson Maynard-Gibson and Frontiers chairman Mike Fitzgerald shake hands following their meeting. Pictured from left are Kendall Williamson (Acklins), Prescott Smith (Andros), Hank Ingram (Frontiers), Dr Baltron Bethel (Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas), Tarquin Millington-Drake (Frontiers), Minister Maynard-Gibson, Eric Carey (Bahamas National Trust), Fitzgerald (Frontiers), Percy Darville (Berry Islands), Benjamin Pratt (Ministry of Tourism), and David Pinder (Grand Bahama).

(BIS photo by Gladstone Thurston)

Posted Monday 15 September, 2003

© 2003 The Nassau Guardian