Ready To Shine

For Carmel Churchill of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Hurricane Dorian hit too close to home, reports Ann Ruppenstein in this week’s issue of Canadian Travel Press.

In the wake of the Category 5 storm in early September, nearly 77% of Grand Bahama Island, located 90 km east of Florida, was covered with floodwaters, in some areas rising much higher than tree lines and rooftops. Cars were overturned, windows were shattered, roofs were dismantled, and pieces of furniture were scattered across lawns. When the floodwaters receded, it was clear her house and most of her belongings didn’t withstand the damage.

However, Churchill still uses the word “fate” to describe how the 23% of the island that wasn’t directly impacted by the storm, was also the most populated and home to most of the destination’s tourism infrastructure.

“The message I want to get across to persons choosing to visit Grand Bahama Island post-Dorian, is that our resort areas were virtually unscathed, and that they can expect to have a good destination experience,” she tells Canadian Travel Press. “In the words of our Minister of Tourism for The Bahamas, ‘The best way to support The Bahamas is to visit The Bahamas.’”

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press.