Tourism-related businesses throughout Grand Bahama gathered at the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) value-added tax (VAT) workshop in Freeport, Grand Bahama on Monday, October 20, 2014. The workshop in Grand Bahama was one of a number of workshops planned for tourism-sector-specific businesses throughout the Commonwealth as part of a private/public sector collaborative effort to engage and educate businesses and individuals in regards to the imminent arrival of value-added tax.
Readiness sessions on Nassau and Grand Bahama for the tourism industry over the past several weeks have attracted nearly 300 participants.
Subsequent sessions are planned throughout the Family Islands, with the Ministry of Finance providing educators and training material, and the BHTA and Ministry of Tourism facilitating the roll-out of the readiness sessions. Sessions held thus far have been successful, as attendees are given training on everything from VAT basics to a heightened understanding, which incorporates aspects of VAT which are specific and impactful to the tourism sector, such as price packaging to wholesalers and online travel agencies, marketing and dealing with transitional considerations. The sessions have been well-received, with many businesses calling for the commencement of workshops in their locations.

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