One of the pillars of the One Bermuda Alliance platform to repower our economy is to “unleash the power of tourism”. As the incoming government, we will re-establish the independent Bermuda Tourism Authority, remove the extra layer of vacation rental tax, partner with hotel developers — not property developers — to reopen hotels and attract more conference business.

When the OBA first swept into power in 2012, one of its priorities was to establish a tourism authority. It was to be an autonomous, self-supporting, independent entity, free of political interference, brimming with the best professionals in the industry. Its remit was to develop Bermuda as a sustainable tourist destination, implement the National Tourism Plan and to provide tourism education and training. From the chairman of the board, board members and CEO, they had to be persons “with suitable qualifications and experience in the travel and tourism sector”.

Can we say that this is a reality in the present make-up of the BTA? The Progressive Labour Party has made the board of this authority a part-time gig for its hand-picked Members of Parliament. These MPs may be well-intentioned persons who are passionate about tourism, but do they pass the test of having “suitable qualifications” worthy of the position?

How about the need that there be operational distance between the Government and this authority? Impossible with this level of political interference that has been witnessed over the past eight years. Over the past year, this organisation has had a stampede of its best and brightest Bermudians resign from their posts — clearly a sign of chaos and instability. It had gotten so bad that the tourism minister called for a review of the culture of the authority, and has hinted at dismantling it altogether.

The OBA government will return this authority to its original vision of autonomy. There will be no parliamentarians as chairman or members of the board. There will be a return to the qualifications of board members being truly experienced in the tourism and travel industry. Tourism will be a priority once again; not a second thought.

The holiday rental market has been a great boost to the hotel industry, especially since the Fairmont Southampton closed. This sector of the industry should be valued and given every incentive to thrive. Therefore, we will remove the extra layer of the vacation rental tax, and in an era when the bigger established hotel properties can benefit from the “Concessions Act”, the newest participants of this industry need to be shown love as well.

Speaking of concessions, it was the Hotel Concessions Act 2000 that encouraged hotel development by providing relief from customs duty and exemption from certain other taxes. We are committed to continue providing these incentives, but with a few caveats. In the hotel development business, we will seek to partner with hotel developers, not property developers, to reopen hotels. We will tie concessions to financial investment and employee training. We will also look to create a sense of urgency with the developers so that hotel properties, once awarded concessions, will be tasked to complete the project within a certain time frame or risk the loss of experiencing its full benefits.

In the past, Bermuda experienced its most profitable times in the tourism industry when it hosted conferences. The Fairmont Southampton was a big part of that success and as the incoming government, we will make its reopening a major objective in reinvigorating tourism. To restore this Southampton property to its former glory with its meeting space would promote conferences that can be adequately facilitated and in turn would encourage the legacy airlines to increase their airlift to the island.

But we would go further than that. It is time to develop additional conference facilities that are connected to the existing hotels, along with multi-purposed entertainment venues. We will work with local and international promoters to bring festivals, sporting tournaments and other events to Bermuda, all year round but preferably in the off-season when our visitor arrival numbers drop.

The One Bermuda Alliance has a plan to energise our tourism industry, which would stimulate our economy on Day 1 of our return to government. With a Bermuda Tourism Authority that is truly independent, a holiday rental sector that is incentivised to thrive, partnering with proven hotel developers and attracting more conferences, we will unleash the power of tourism.

• Marcus Jones is the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Pembroke West (Constituency 19)

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