Community Based Tourism Initiative for The Bahamas

The CBT Initiative was introduced to The Bahamas by the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility comprising the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Inter-American Development Bank, UK Aid, Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Canada. The initiative’s objective is to create equity and balance in the three sustainability pillars (socio-economic, cultural and environmental) on the island of Andros and promote Andros as a successful, year-round sustainable and nature-based tourism destination that can provide sustainable livelihoods for its communities. The Project's activities will centre around capacity building, marketing and product development to increase business development and employment of fishing, birding, soft adventure, eco- tourism guides and promote conservation efforts on Andros. The CBT benefits would see Andros branded as a the premier eco-tourism and nature-based tourism destination in The Bahamas, raising its profile in the market place and creating sustainable livelihoods for Androsians. The success of this initiative will enable the Ministry of Tourism to engage other Bahamas destinations in CBT initiatives with a private-sector led, multi-stakeholder approach to tourism development and management, with this initiative serving as a model for future tourism planning, CBT development and implementation. The project launched in the latter half of 2018 with the assignment in 2019 of a Cluster Facilitator charged with preparation of the Cluster Development Plan. The project is intended to attract up to $400,000 in grants from international funding agencies with the Cluster contributing approximately $248,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in a private-sector led presentation to an Investment Panel on 5 February 2021. To date 67 firms, partners and supporting agencies are members of the Cluster, 56 of which are core businesses. If successful, a Cluster Manager will be hired to implement the plan over a two-year timeline. Initiatives completed under the CBT Initiative include the following: 1a) Andros Cluster Development Plan; 1b) Andros Asset Inventory 1c) Cluster Membership 2a) Terms of Reference - Cluster Manager; 2b) Cluster Implementation Plan & Budget 3a) Bye-Laws and Articles of the Cluster for Cooperative Formation 3b) Procurement Plan The North and Central Andros Pilot Project will generate additional economic benefits in local communities by creating linkages between Andros' cultural and environmental and agro-tourism sectors and incorporate local activities such as handicraft and basket weaving, woodwork, nature guiding, environmental services, heritage, fishing, birding, diving medicinal bush medicine tours, culinary and other authentic Bahamian products into the visitor experience. The project will showcase Andros' natural attractions such as the Andros West Side National Park, one of the largest Marine Protected Areas in the region; trails to heritage sites and naturally occurring features such as the Blue Holes National Park ; Andros' spectacular interwoven underwater cavern system; dives to the world's third largest barrier reef, just offshore; sightings of migrating and endemic birds, and promotion of its signature, Cultural, Crab, Arts and Culinary festivals. The eco-sporting activities of diving, snorkeling, flatsfishing, caving, camping, kayaking, birding and hiking in Andros' pristine ecological setting are expected to attract nature enthusiasts, outdoor sportsmen, birders and flats anglers, thus creating a dynamic ecotourism and nature-based tourism industry and generating significant improvements to the socio-economic standard of the local communities of Andros. The project will strengthen niche market sectors and the development of a tour guide curriculum will enhance knowledge and skill set. Service providers will be required to possess Bahamahost and Health Safety Certifications with further formalization of the industry through business compliance and governance mechanisms. The formalization of the Cluster into a legal entity, or Cooperative, by end of year one will enable stakeholders to benefit from general and specialist workshops and technical support in digital marketing, improved accountability and business reporting, product development, packaging, heritage interpretation and sustainability. The Ministry of Tourism will further build industry resilience through sponsored employee training in health and safety COVID-29 protocols, corporate governance, marketing, disaster risk and business management. A branded product, improved product and service quality and delivery, enhanced market access and social media presence should enable the Cluster to generate $45.6 million in sales, triple the number of persons trained in guiding, increase the number of women-owned firms by 60% and employment by more than 150% over a three year period Presentation of the Cluster Development Plan, by a core Cluster stakeholder to an Investment Panel of international funding agencies, will take place on 5 February, 2021. If successful, the Cluster's ten (10) public, private and NGO Supporting Agencies (Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas National Trust, Out Island Promotion Board, Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, Bahamas Development Bank, Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, Department of Cooperatives Development, Andros Nature Conservancy & Trust, The National Audubon Society and Tropic Ocean Airways, will host a press briefing to move forward with launch of the Andros Community Based Tourism Cluster Project and a Cluster Manager will be hired to execute the Plan. The Cluster Manager along with Supporting Agencies would then implement mechanisms to encourage local firms and entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, to get involved in the Cluster.