Bahamas Marina Association President, Peter Murray is raising concern about the rising costs associated with boating in the country and its impact on the industry.

Murray recently told ZNS News there has been a 40% decrease in charter bookings. He said, “normally on some of the cases a boat would get a multi-entry or the would get a ninety day where they could come over, they do two trips. They might go to Bimini, you know the smaller boats, rent a couple of Air BnBs or hotel rooms and you know that business is kind of gone.”

According to Murray boaters are making less trips or skipping The Bahamas altogether. he said boat operators are cutting costs and offering discounts which has proved not to be enough especially in the family islands. “You know what its like in the family islands there’s no cruise ships and big resorts. A lot of our smaller family islands the depend on this type of transient business.”

Murray believe that path forward includes a new digitized system and flexible permits. He said, “boats aren’t taking as many trips so I think with the ninety day, at a reasonable rate, we might get some of the boats coming back in more often and hopefully spending longer. And I think the other big things is we’ve pushed for a multi-entry digital cruising permit for quite a while, which they put in, but the only problem is its not digital. If we get to that point the fees can be paid online, the entries can be done online, pre visit, and I think that will help a lot as well.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper has said the government is reviewing boating fees led by the Ministries of Finance and Transport and Energy.