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Bermuda Tourism Board: Casino gambling in discussion

Posted on April 29th, 2011

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With discussions on Tourism high on the agenda for government officials, the prospect of casino gambling is certainly gaining steam and promises to be a critical talking point in Bermuda’s big to wrest back some of the tourism luster that it has lost over the last few years. With a new Tourism board sitting to determine what’s next for the island resort destination, could it be a possible that a new master plan for tourism include a gambling facility to allow visitors to while away time during their stay? The answer of that question figures to be tricky, but one thing is for certain: the topic will heavily feature during the discussion by 30-some tourism industry experts as they meet at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess for a 2-day policy debate on what’s next for the region.

The Chairman of the Board is Malcolm Butterfield and he says there are currently no imposed restrictions on what that plan might look like. Casinos, in particular, could be back on the agenda despite receiving a rejection last year from the MP. Butterfield understands that the only way Bermuda can stay competitive in the tourism sector is if shifts its mindset to providing what visitors want and what are the means possible to administer them in the best way. This is echoed by Maxwell Burgess, also a Board Member, who says they will let the data speak for itself. If the demand calls for casinos to be put in the area as a response to visitor clamors, then Burgess believes that the demand should be met. “If they are asking for bread and you won’t build a bakery then you take that decision at your own peril.” adds Burgess

Burgess reiterates however that it’s all on what the data will yield for Bermuda. If the visitors point to the need for a casino, then the Tourism Board will certainly be on top of the issue looking to find the best possible means to make it happen. “Bermuda will have some decision to make. If this is what your customer is asking for then you have to listen,” adds Burgess. Butterfield defers to Peter Yessawich, a marketing guru hired to put Bermuda back on the map, who will facilitate the 2-day proceedings. He is expected to bring with him the nitty gritty on what customers need through statistics collected by painstakingly doing marketing research among Bermuda’s many visitors. The picture should clearly paint what it is that is required of Bermuda in order to stay on the map and not fall off visitor’s radar.

The convention will also rely heavily on the input and opinion of invited guests from various industries like the hotels, Chamber of Commerce and of course the Island Tourism Board. No stones will be left unturned as everyone collective seeks to formulate a policy that is best for Bermuda. “We aim to go everywhere irrespective of the sensitivity of the issues. The point of the retreat is that people can let their hair down and be very candid with their thoughts.” The discussions will also not discount the decision of the MP last year which voted to reject a Green Paper on casino gaming. The results of the paper derived from an overseas study by independent consultants Research Innovations was tabled by then Premier Dr Ewart Brown despite recommendations indicating that a gaming facility would only boost tourist interests in the area, hasten development, create jobs, and raise millions of dollars through taxation revenues that can in turn be used to fund other island concerns particularly those that can enrich the tourism experience in general.

During those discussions, the general prevailing consensus, according to Brown, was that “the majority of MPs have vehement opposition to gaming,” this after Deputy Premier Paula Cox spoke out on the matter in opposition. It remains to be seen what can be done differently this time as a new MP constitution should hopefully prove more accommodating of a gaming proposal. The results will come in less than a week’s time and after that, who knows. Bermuda definitely has some thinking to do and it better do it fast.