The Ministry of Tourism has unveiled plans on for a 14-island multi-level promotional strategy that will highlight the Family Islands.

Through its London-based office, the Ministry is recruiting 42 filmmakers to produce a short film featuring life on the Family Islands.

Fourteen will be chosen to travel to The Bahamas to produce the short film, which will be distributed to audiences around the world.

The islands are Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, San Salvador, Exuma, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana, Long Island, Cat Island, Bimini, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

?The Ministry of Tourism is always seeking to use effective media to advance the reputation of our country and enhance our profile as a vacation destination of choice,? said Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Vernice Walkine, October 13.

It is expected that these objectives will be met through this extensive promotion, she said.

The challenge is designed to build ?greater awareness? of The Bahamas and appreciation of the country?s beauty, particularly in the United Kingdom.

She noted that there is a ?significant? onshore component and that the project ?cannot be successful without the full participation of Bahamians as consummate hosts and great information sources to the filmmakers.?

?Here is our chance, as Bahamians, to help UK filmmakers make the best possible film about the islands on which we live, showing the people of the UK why they should visit our islands,? said Ms. Walkine.

The price tag for this project will be ?modest? according to District Sales Manager, MOT UK office, Giovanni Grant.

?This project will cost the Ministry $250,000 - $300,000, most of which will be used for travel and accommodations for the filmmakers,? he said. ?It?s a small price to pay for the potential benefits that we will reap.?

The movies? idyllic shots of the islands will reside online at the Bahamas? UK website which functions as a 24-hour tourist office to give information and visual images of The Bahamas to Internet users.

?The overall goal of the initiative is to drive traffic to the bahamas.co.uk website, and ultimately to cause prospective travelers to consider one of our islands for their next holiday retreat,? said Ms Walkine.

This initiative lines up with the Ministry?s goal of attracting UK travellers to The Bahamas in 2009 and 2010, she said.

By Betty Vedrine

Bahamas Information Services