Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper recently addressed the issue of local businesses not experiencing an economic boost from the record number of tourists visiting The Bahamas.

Cooper told reporters the biggest complaint from some is that there is not enough to do in country.  He said, “therefore we have gone in overdrive working with the Tourism Development Corporation to help them to help entrepreneurs to incubate ideas, to fund ideas and to get new tours and experience going for the benefit of guests and the empowerment of the entrepreneur.”

The Minister said Bahamians should invest in tourism.  “This is a call for the community to invest in tourism, to get involved, to create businesses, to invest in downtown, to create experiences for our guests, to help us to create and fulfill the vibe that we’ve been trying to create for entertainment and restaurants and experiences cultural and heritage and otherwise downtown.  So whilst we lead the process Bahamians must invest downtown, must invest in tourism, there’s no better time to do it than right now.”