NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Tourism is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its data collection, analysis and tracking of visitors to The Bahamas, revealed Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.
Cooper while bringing remarks at the launch of The Caribbean Investment Forum stated: “Through the use of digital innovation and the integration of artificial intelligence or AI, we are improving our data collection, analysis and tracking, marketing and promotion, and strategic deployment for improved clarity and better profiles on visitors to our shores. Artificial intelligence is being used by my ministry to give us data that we can feel and gives us better inputs for improved outputs.”
He added: “We are also working and engaging actively with our counterparts at the Caribbean Tourism Organization to advance multi-destination tourism. Essentially, everything that we do supports not just the vibrancy of the industry but also the attractiveness and feasibility of inward investments in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“Through our Tourism Development Corporation and Tourism Development Fund, we will encourage foreign investment that will in turn create linkages with other industries and support local entrepreneurship. The Tourism Development Corporation will lower the barriers to entry into the tourism industry for the average youth and women entrepreneurs and place ownership in their hands.”
Cooper noted that the country’s tourism sector continues its strong post-pandemic performance.
“When we look at our arrival numbers, air and sea combined, we have for the first six months of this year, welcomed more than five million visitors. Conservative projections put our visitor arrivals well over eight million by the end of the year. With such numbers, the opportunities for new businesses and endeavors are almost limitless.”
Still, Cooper noted that even with those numbers, the ministry is not resting on its laurels.
“What we have been doing is taking a pro-active approach to evolving the tourism product because we are fully aware that the existing tourism model under which we operate today will not sustain us indefinitely into the future. We are today harnessing emerging technologies, concepts, and ways of thinking in order to revamp our product. We are breaking and rebuilding.”
Cooper underscored the need for initiatives like The Caribbean Investment Forum and the need for action to be taken to address regional issues.
“One of those areas is food security – to challenge ourselves to achieve CARICOM’s goal of the 25 percent reduction in imports by 2025 perhaps by aggressively deploying agri-tech.
“Another area is renewable energy. The Bahamas has a mandate of having 30 percent renewables on grid by 2030. We have a great opportunity to harness the 365-day-a-year sunshine in paradise to address this imperative. This should kick-start the conversation on energy reliability and affordability.
Cooper continued: “Climate resilient infrastructure is another critical issue, as the threat of major storms looms over us even as we speak. Building Caribbean connectivity will also be key. This includes investing in the requisite airport and ferry infrastructure for air and sea,” said Cooper.
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