Bahamas Rich in Untapped Resources says Tourism Minister Vanderpool-Wallace

Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace delved into the untapped economic potential of the Bahamas during a courtesy call from the new US Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant.

After introducing Ms. Avant to the senior executive team, Minister Vanderpool-Wallace explained that the Bahamas was fortunate to have the third highest per capita income in the western hemisphere after substantially developing only one island of the 700-island chain.  He said the islands have great potential, and the main marketing focus of the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation was to ensure that the world begins to distinguish between Nassau and the rest of the country.

“We are extremely optimistic about the future,” he said. “We have the greatest gap between what we are and what we can be, no matter how successful we may be now.”

Ms. Avant is the 13th US Ambassador to the Bahamas.  She said that she looks forward to working with all Bahamian officials and to building on the healthy rapport that the United States Embassy enjoys with Bahamian ministries.

Pictured (from left) are Deputy Chief of Mission in the US Embassy Tim Zuniga-Brown, Tourism Permanent Secretary Hyacinth Winder-Pratt, Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine, Ambassador Avant and Minister Vanderpool-Wallace.