Bermuda Breeze aims to breathe new life into St George
A major initiative was launched yesterday aimed at increasing the number of visitors to St George ― and at the same time help island businesses.
Bermuda Breeze will operate for six days a week for the next 179 days and will see a market on King’s Square selling items from vendors across the island, and live entertainment, such as street entertainers, on Water Street.
There will also be a new app to help visitors find their way around St George as well as plans to brighten up the area with new decorations.
“Our goal is to make sure that visitors have the opportunity to have a wonderful experience in the Town of St George,” said Danielle Riviere, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce chief executive.
The market will be run and staffed by the chamber and vendors from across the island can contact the organisation to have their products put on display for sale.
Activities will start at 9.30am before ferries arrive at St George ― often business are closed at that time ― ensuring the town is alive with activity when tourists visit.
Ms Riviere added: “We saw an opportunity to create activity within the town square before businesses opened, but also recognising that it was an opportunity for more entrepreneurs to reach the hundreds of tourists that come in on the ferries.
“It’s a great opportunity not only for businesses in St George, but also those who are looking to be vendors.”
The market, which officially started yesterday, has 17 vendors but it is expected that the number will grow as word of the initiative spreads.
Asked about whether there would also be increased transport, Ms Riviere said: “We have ferries coming into the town every day.
“They loop from Hamilton to Dockyard to St George’s, we also have the NCL ferry that comes in and minibuses as well as taxis.
“There is transportation, but there does need to be more focused transportation that’s specifically for the East End and we’re working on that.
“Hopefully by next season, you’ll see some additional changes on the road.”
Bermuda Breeze was the brainchild of the Chamber of Commerce and is being supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the ministries of transport and tourism and the Corporation of St George.
Transport minister Wayne Furbert said Bermuda Breeze was “a collaborative effort that will bring new life, new energy, and new opportunities to the Old Towne”.
He added: “We are thrilled to support the Bermuda Breeze initiative, which creates a vibrant and memorable experience for visitors who travel by ferry to explore the historic town.”
Owen Darrell, the tourism minister, added: “I am honoured to sponsor this inventive project, which will see 179 days of heightened activity in St George.
“I view this as 179 extra opportunities to showcase Bermuda’s warm hospitality to our visitors while simultaneously creating significant additional revenue for our local entrepreneurs.
“It is a win-win scenario to help revitalise St George and achieve a great milestone.”
He said the Wayfinding App would allow visitors to explore St George at their leisure and was part of the BTA’s “mission to offer a range of visitor experiences to cater to many types of travellers to Bermuda’s shores”.
The St George mayor, Quinnell Francis, said she was very happy to see the scheme launched.
“It’s something that we’ve been working on for a while to try to get vendors into the square as well as some entertainment. So it was great when the Bermuda Chamber was able to pull this off.”
On how important it was for St George to have an initiative like Bermuda Breeze, Ms Francis said: “It’s very important. It gives people opportunities to see what we have to offer.
“My hopes are high. I think that street entertainment throughout Water Street and the square will enhance what we and what the businesses already offer.”
Bermuda Breeze will operate six days a week and on public holidays. It will not operate on Saturdays as there are no ferries.
• To read the full ministerial statements, see Related Media
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