NASSAU, BAHAMAS — An Abaco resort operator has urged the repair of the Treasure Cay Airport to boost business in North Abaco, while also calling for greater infrastructural investment as well as concessions, and tax breaks for new and existing businesses.
Molly McIntosh, general manager of the Bluff House in Green Turtle Cay, told Eyewitness News: “We need to have the airport at Treasure Cay (TCB) repaired and open for commercial flights. That would increase business for all in North Abaco. To come into and leave from Marsh Harbour (MHH) costs our guests at least $210 for the taxi (roundtrip), and if they arrive on a late flight on Silver or Bahamasair from Nassau, they have to charter the ferry in addition to the taxi, which costs $105 for two people. This can dissuade people from coming to Green Turtle Cay and cause them to look elsewhere, often not in the Bahamas, for a vacation destination. Charter flights and private planes are coming into TCB every day, and they have two trailers set up for Customs and Immigration and a small waiting area that can seat about five people, which is air-conditioned.”
Treasure Cay Airport and Sandy Point International Airport had been identified for upgrades and classified as Tier 3, meaning only domestic services are provided with limited traffic and coordination needed with island administrators for inspections and maintenance. Of the 14 airports the government will enter Public/Private Partnerships with, three will be in the northern Bahamas, namely Abaco.
McIntosh continued: “I think that the Bahamas is in a good position, and Abaco is one of the jewels of the Bahamas that people cannot wait to explore. We need to take advantage of that and make the experience the very best it can be so that they will come back and also tell their friends and family about their time here. I believe that to encourage more visitors to come and stay longer, investing in some infrastructure (roads, bathrooms, government buildings) and education (teaching tourism in the schools in the out islands as a requirement) will pay off dividends. What I have seen in my 35 years here is that all people, no matter where they are from, want to be appreciated and to feel special.”
McIntosh suggested that the government should consider incentives and tax breaks for new and existing businesses trying to grow and provide the great service and high-quality products that tourists desire. She noted that if business owners keep facing obstacles, they might get discouraged and give up.
“I wish we could get the central government to allocate some funds to make the experience a little better when guests arrive. It would be nice to have some public bathrooms on Green Turtle Cay in the village and possibly fix the derelict government historical buildings in the village of New Plymouth that were heavily damaged in 2019 by Hurricane Dorian,” said McIntosh.
McIntosh noted that issues such as increased costs and taxes have impacted business. “Food costs just continue to go up every week. Our business license taxes have tripled. Some of that is because we are doing more business, but not all of the increase is due to that. Also, we have to pay the business license fees in advance now, which is a bit of a hardship when we are already paying out so many fees. Many businesses, including Bluff House, have had trouble getting our tax compliance certificate, and it took longer this year to receive our business license. But for Bluff House, at least, all is in order now.”
