Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday christened a cruise ship which he said is expected to bring up to 400,000 passengers to Bimini on an annual basis.
Christie also opened a new Resorts World Casino, which is expected to inject millions of dollars into the small island economy.
He said the new developments will provide hundreds of jobs for the people of Bimini and many more spin-off opportunities.
"The economic impact on the local economy will be enormous as Resorts World proceeds rapidly in concert with the government to turn Bimini into one of the most attractive destinations in The Bahamas, having due regard to the environment, local culture and traditions," said Christie during the official opening of the casino at Bimini Bay.
The ship, Bimini Superfast, has the capacity to carry up to 3,000 passengers, and is dedicated solely to transporting passengers between Bimini and Miami, Florida.
Prior to the opening ceremony for the casino, Christie christened the ship during a short ceremony in Miami yesterday morning.
The Resorts World/Genting Group and RAV Bahamas formed a joint venture to bring the casino to the island.
Christie said in the coming months there will be significant upgrades to the island's infrastructure.
"In order to increase overall occupancy and to transform this resort into a year round destination, a strategic transformation plan is being implemented that addresses product placement, procurement of affordable transportation with express cruise ship ferry and airlift offering special rates, island infrastructural improvement, resort activity enhancement, the implementation of an effective marketing strategy, human resource development and training to deliver a world class service," Christie said.
He said there are plans to market the resort as a haven for boating and water sports.
Christie said the capital costs to Resorts World associated with the acquisition and introduction of the cruise ferry services is $95 million.
He added that following environment approval, Resorts World will also build at its expense a deep water jetty and terminal for a cost of an additional $10 million at which the Bimini Superfast and two mega yachts will dock.
Christie said until the dock is completed later this year, the developer has acquired two large catamarans to be used as tenders.
During an interview in Miami following the christening of the boat, Christie underscored the importance of training so that more Bahamians can take advantage of the jobs that are available now and those that will come on stream later.
Resorts World and Genting Group Chairman Kok Thay Lim, whose company used to own a hotel property in Freeport, Grand Bahama, said he hopes this project will have greater success.
"We have greater experience now with presence in New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, Malaysia, Singapore and United Kingdom," Kok said.
"We are now preparing to make World Resort Bimini in The Bahamas into an international destination resort."
Bimini Superfast is 32,000 gross tons, 670 feet long, 82 feet wide and has 10 floors.
Kok said it's the fastest cruise ship in the Americas.
The boat will travel between Bimini and Miami twice per day.
"This provides two types of experiences, a 10-day exploratory cruise, and an eight-hour day party cruise and a free and easy getaway," Kok said.
He said another feature of the ship is that it can carry cargo, which will lower transportation costs to Bimini by at least one third.
It can also carry boats and private yachts and make the great Bahama Bank a year round sailing destination, bringing greater economic activity to The Bahamas, he said.
This feature with be offered after the creation of the jetty.
Kok also noted the many spin-off benefits that the developments will create
"Hopefully, it will build a new bridge between Miami and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas," he said.
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