Tropical Takeaways

     Three things I took away from my time in the Bahamas was how tourism drives the island, how customer experience must be assessed regularly, and how culture gives a community life.

A Junkanoo themed mural, Downtown Nassua

     Tourism is the Bahama’s largest industry. The vastness of this industry was evident in everything I saw while visiting. From the moment I left our hotel, to the walk back after a days activities, I found myself surrounded by tourists, and the Bahamians who cater to them. Walking a block without seeing a street vendor hawking souvenirs, or hearing a cab honk at us was rare. Nearly every Bahamian either worked in the tourism industry, or had a family member who did. Many emphasized the importance of tourism to the economy, some thankfully such as “Tommy Bahama” a waiter at Conch and Kalik, and some less so, such as my taxi driver who said his hard-earned degree in biology was useless as we drove from the airport. He stated he could make more driving cabs than teaching at the University of the Bahamas, the largest school on the island. The vastness of the industry could also be seen by the Ministry of Tourism, and its regulating ability. As I later learned, multinational corporations and locals fight hard to sway legislators hands, as their decisions impact the livelihood of all. 

     Much like tourism, the customer experience is especially important in the Bahamas. “Give us a positive review on Trip Advisor” was a common way to bid our group farewell. The customer experience was of particular interest to the Ministry of Tourism executives. While the Bahamas is the 4th most popular destination in the Caribbean they lamented the drop in rankings from number one. During our meeting with them, they asked many questions about our restaurant experiences, curious as to how they could improve service. I was surprised that some outright admitted the experience was in need of a revamp. The oldest executive amongst the group told us he’d seen little change since the golden days of the 1940s. This conversation, and observations throughout the trip proved the importance of examining and improving upon the customer experience to maintain competitiveness. 

     Finally I witnessed the importance of culture to forming community. One thing I was stuck by was one executive’s comment that the Bahamas hadn’t had the chance to truly develop a culture since the end of its colonial period. While I understood what he meant, I witnessed many facets of culture I saw throughout my trip, hidden beneath the touristy surface. The Junkanoo festival was perhaps the best example of that. At 2am on New Years Day, the streets became flooded with music, colors, and dancing. Large paper covered floats were followed by dancers and musicians in equally breathtaking costumes. For many Junkanoo groups, this was something they had spent all year preparing for. Witnessing people call from the stands to loved ones in the parade was something that showed me how events like these brought a community together. 

A Junkanoo Float from "behind the scenes"

Cruising Through Nassau - Adventure Jeep Experience

     One experience I thoroughly enjoyed was our adventure jeep tour of Nassau. As part of the Bahamas Customer Experience Evaluation, our group used this adventure rental to explore the island. While we had already experienced the downtown area of Nasua, where cruise ships docked each day, we wanted to see what the island was like beyond the hustle and bustle of its center. 

     Upon arriving at BowCar’s rental center we were surprised by the intensity of the operation. One women commanded an army of employees as they pushed to get cars out on the road for tourists with a busy day ahead of them. “Hurry up! They have a ship to catch!” she barked at one of the men. As we waited for our buggy to be brought out l I thought about how different this experience was from many others in the Bahamas. While many restaurants and attractions ran on “island time,” BowCar was moving full speed ahead. My surprise indicated that I had become quickly accustomed to the relaxed pace of the Caribbean.

Our team posing with the Jeep

     Once we finished the paperwork we hit the road in search of adventure. Our first stop was Jaws Beach on the Western side of the island. As we raced down the open roads, engine revving, I was delighted by the reactions we got. Passing drivers waved, a fellow jeep driver honked their horn, and beachgoers snapped photos of our show on wheels. The freedom it brought us, and the excitement it brought others was tangible. Not only could we visit a secluded beach, but we were also able to explore other hard to reach parts of the island. We traveled through the gated communities and abandoned resorts of the West and were taken away by their grandeur. We stopped at a suburban grocery shop and tried unique treats. They were all moments that surprised and delighted. But, perhaps the most memorable moment with the jeep was watching the last sunrise of 2018.

Enjoying ice cream at Jaws Beach

     We left downtown, at 6:00 am sharp. The roads were empty as we cruised towards lookout point, the easternmost part of the island. By the time we arrived however, it was clear that Nassau was beginning to wake from its slumber. As we sat on the seawall, we were greeted by joggers and other sunrise-watchers. The friendly nature of Bahamians had been evident throughout the trip, but I lamented that there were few moments where the customer-service barrier was broken down. In this moment however, where there was only us, and the sea, the barrier was broken, and this warmth shone through once more, brighter than the rising sun. As we drove back, I struggled to keep my eyes open to take in the now blue sky. Despite how sleepy I was, I wouldn’t change a thing about our 24 hour whirlwind of a tour. Throughout our short adventure not only did I get to know the island better, but I got to know its citizens better as well. 

Jonathan and the sunrise... credit Ethan Stoler