Destination-level tourism assessments for the Northern Bahamas

Description

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is seeking a consulting firm to conduct comprehensive tourism assessments for seven islands in the Northern Bahamas: Grand Bahama, New Providence, Bimini, Berry Islands, Abaco, Eleuthera, and Andros. The goal is to move beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach, recognizing the unique characteristics of each island to inform evidence-based investment and sustainable product development.

Key components of this consultancy include:

1. Framework application and destination profiling
The firm will identify and justify an established destination assessment framework (such as a competitiveness index for small island economies) and apply it consistently across all seven islands. This profiling will evaluate the tourism structure, development context, and current performance trajectory of each destination relative to international peers.

2. Market and product analysis
Demand Dynamics: Analyzing the last 3–5 years of performance, including visitor profiles, source markets, and spending patterns to understand seasonality and market positioning.

Infrastructure & Services: Assessing the quality and diversity of local tourism products, as well as constraints in connectivity, accessibility, and service delivery that hinder growth.

Sustainable Segments: Evaluating the alignment between island assets and high-value target markets, with a focus on niche and emerging sustainable tourism segments.

3. Sustainability, resilience, and risk
A critical pillar of the assessment involves identifying environmental and climate risks specific to each island. The consultancy will:

Evaluate operational and social risks.

Assess carrying capacity pressures to ensure tourism growth does not compromise local ecosystems or community well-being.

Propose strategic directions that prioritize climate resilience and inclusive growth.

4. Strategic recommendations and validation
The consultant will facilitate stakeholder engagement sessions with public and private actors to validate findings. The final output will be a comprehensive diagnostic report and a comparative synthesis, providing a "place-based" roadmap for investment prioritization and strategic planning across the Northern Bahamas islands.

Note: Interested firms must carefully review the registration requirements in the BEO Bidders Portal.