An overhaul of the taxi industry proposed by Baha Mar would require that only vehicles of specified make and model be approved for taxi cab service, that those vehicles be no more than five years old and that all cabs must include credit card terminals to provide a more convenient cash free environment for visitors.
The proposal could cost the government, though: Baha Mar called for 100 percent Central Bank financing and duty free concessions for all taxi drivers in certain circumstances. These and other measures are included in the proposal released by Baha Mar executives, designed to modernize the country's taxi services. They argue that the mega resort's upcoming launch could serve as the perfect catalyst for upgrading and reforming the industry.
The proposal released on Friday called for additional government and private sector support through the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), car dealers, and financial institutions. Designed to put the country's taxis on par with those services in major international cities, the proposal echoed the most common complaints and suggestions raised by the Ministry of Tourism earlier this year; the perceived poor level of professionalism from drivers, and a need for a technological improvements in the taxi industry.
"There is an opportunity to improve the tourism product across the board. A key player in the visitor experience is the taxi cab franchise holder and driver. It is a quality assurance standard. Also it creates a mechanism to reward and recognize franchise holders who comply with the Road Traffic Regulations and adhere to high customer service standards," read the proposal.
Baha Mar's proposed overhaul would require sizable amendments to the country's current road traffic laws and regulations, including stipulations that vehicles be one of a specific make and model approved for taxi cab service, and be no more than five years old. The proposal would also require all cabs to include credit card terminals to provide a more convenient cash free environment for visitors.
While the tourism sector would welcome the proposed changes and added regulations, Baha Mar's plan calls for a number of serious considerations from the government. The proposal asks for the Central Bank of The Bahamas to provide 100 percent financing for a limited time to help cab drivers meet the regulations, while asking the government to consider a temporary removal of the moratorium on granting of additional taxi franchises in light of the increase in New Providence's hotel rooms. The proposal additionally called for duty free concessions for all taxi drivers regardless of whether they have claimed an exemption in the past five years and a broad exemption of the recoup of duty on the resale of old cabs purchased duty free.
The $3.5 billion resort will launch upwards of half of its total 2,200 rooms on March 27.
While noting that any modernization was not specifically tied to the resort, the Baha Mar proposal noted that the timing was ideal for wider change in transportation given plans for the redevelopment of downtown Nassau and the China Construction America's (CCA) purchase of the British Colonial Hilton late last year.
Baha Mar ultimately hoped that the modernization efforts would be part of a wider effort to provide a more convenient and safe experience for visitors through customs and immigration reform at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and broader safety reforms to New Providence's beach and water sports activities following reports of sexual assault and harassment from poorly regulated jet ski operators.
Although Baha Mar representatives expected an incremental modernization by the majority of franchise holders over time, they sought "early adopters" to service critical areas of New Providence's tourism sector, including LPIA, Cable Beach, and downtown. Although the proposal would likely gain most traction in New Providence, Baha Mar executives believed that the same model could be applied throughout The Bahamas.
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