NASSAU, BAHAMAS _ The Executive Director of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board is advocating for greater collaboration among tourism stakeholders in the family islands while stressing the importance of proactive engagement over the continued reliance on government intervention, noting, "Let's not just sit around and complain."

Kerry Fountain, in an interview with Eyewitness News, emphasized that despite the benefits it offers, the board continues to encounter difficulties in sustaining membership.

He noted that issues with consistent electricity and internet are among just some of the issues continuing to impact out island resorts, and affecting the visitor experience while resort owners continue to complain about the ease of doing business, namely renewing hotel and business licenses and banking.

Fountain said: "It's one thing to uncover challenges. We have this information, and we are going to do something about it. It means collaboration, public and private sectors working hand in hand."

Fountain, who will participate in the two-day Eleuthera Business Outlook next week, stated, "It also means the hotels getting together and deciding where the challenges are, whether in the north, central, or south Eleuthrea. That is what I'd like to see coming out of the outlook. Let's not just sit down and complain, but how can we as stakeholders collaborate and get things done and not just wait for the government," said Fountain.

Fountain urged greater involvement with various promotion boards. "We do need to get more stakeholders on board and we do need active participation," he noted.

Fountained continued: "We continue to struggle with membership. Hotels come and go. We try to offer the benefits we feel will help all members, but it's a struggle. I know the benefits we offer are solid, and I don't think any other promotion boards offer better benefits; they may be similar."

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