NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) has provided the government with its suggestions on changes needed to simplify the entry process for visiting vessels, according to Peter Maury, president of the association.
“They’ve spoken to us, we made our suggestions, and that’s all we know so far,” Maury said, referring to recent discussions with government officials.
He added that the ABM had outlined practical steps to address industry challenges. “They contacted us and we told them what we needed to fix to uncomplicate the process,” Maury said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper in December confirmed that the government would review boating fees and entry protocols following feedback from stakeholders in key boating destinations, including Abaco, Bimini, and The Exumas.
“The Ministry of Tourism is focused on ensuring that The Bahamas remains one of the most welcoming and competitive destinations in the region for boating visitors,” Cooper said in a statement in December, noting that multiple ministries will be involved in assessing both policy implementation and economic impact.
Rising concerns over higher boating fees and procedural changes have coincided with a slowdown in charter activity and the cancellation of the Bahamas Charter Yacht Show, a key event for the country’s marine and tourism sector.
