National Tourism Plan tabled in the House
Four destination hubs on the Island, and a fifth offshore, will be set up as part of an effort to reinvent Bermuda’s tourism industry.St George’s and St David’s, the City of Hamilton, South Shore and Dockyard will all receive special focus under the National Tourism Plan, which aims to increase visitor spending from $422 million in 2011 to $1.4 billion by 2022, creating more than 6,000 jobs along the way.Offshore Bermuda, the fifth hub, will encourage tourists to make the most of the Island’s coral reef system.The plan will also target the luxury lifestyle segment, ensuring a top-end product is available for visitors coming to Bermuda for cultural and sports events and business conferences.It was developed through the Tourism Board, the Department of Tourism and a number of international partners, following consultation with stakeholders across the tourism sector.A gaming facility, shopping tourism development and Hamilton waterfront development will all be pursued under the leisure and entertainment bracket, with a marina facility hoping to boost nautical tourism.Shop hours and days of operation will be revised to ensure they cater to visitors during leisure hours, while exclusive tours will be launched from Coopers Island Nature Reserve.Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert has previously revealed the National Tourism Plan aims to reduce the Island’s dependence on the summer months for generating revenue, and move back towards air arrivals from cruise arrivals.He has said the vision is to create an “innovative, modern and sophisticated year round destination”, using Bermuda’s natural beauty and cultural heritage and other resources to create “authentic Bermudian experiences” for visitors.