The unveiling of Carnival’s $600 million Celebration Key cruise port in East Grand Bahama has triggered a dramatic downturn for local businesses and tour operators, with some reporting visitor declines of up to 90 percent. This sharp reduction in foot traffic and bookings has left many enterprises grappling to remain viable, prompting urgent discussions with tourism stakeholders and government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment, and Aviation Chester Cooper.
David Wallace, owner of Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park, acknowledged the long-term potential of Celebration Key for Grand Bahama but emphasized the unforeseen economic strain on independent operators. He revealed that visitor numbers at his attraction have plummeted in the past two months. Previously, Carnival’s ships docking at Freeport Harbour brought hundreds of tourists daily, but now, only a fraction of that number arrives from Celebration Key. Wallace stressed that while the current influx is better than nothing, it is insufficient to sustain operations.
Before Celebration Key’s opening, Carnival’s ships visited Freeport Harbour approximately 15 times monthly, delivering around 350,000 passengers annually. The new port, however, will host Carnival ships 40 times weekly, with over 2,000 annual calls and an estimated 2.5 million passengers. Many local businesses expanded in anticipation of this growth but have instead faced significant declines.
In response, a coalition of business owners, tour operators, transportation providers, and straw vendors convened to strategize on attracting more visitors and addressing the challenges posed by Celebration Key. Wallace highlighted the group’s investments and their desire to coexist with the new port. Meetings were held with Grand Bahama Port Authority president Ian Rolle, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles, and government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Minister Ginger Moxey.
Among the proposals raised was the suggestion for Carnival to continue docking some ships at Freeport Harbour to boost local business activity. Additionally, efforts are underway to collaborate with the government, Promotion Board, and cruise line to promote attractions like Port Lucaya Marketplace, the Straw Market, and Garden of the Groves.
Knowles noted that while Carnival is bringing millions of passengers to Grand Bahama, most are choosing to remain within Celebration Key, leaving external businesses with drastically reduced foot traffic. He emphasized the need for immediate action to encourage passengers to explore the wider island. Recommendations included improving marketing efforts, making transportation from Celebration Key more accessible, and ensuring tour operators have better access to the port.
Despite the challenges, Knowles expressed optimism that the situation would improve as the novelty of Celebration Key wanes. However, he stressed the urgency of addressing the current struggles faced by local businesses, stating that even a small portion of Carnival’s passengers could significantly benefit the island’s economy.