Coming to you LIVE from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

This week's show, LIVE from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

This year will mark the largest contingent of Bahamian hoteliers and marina operators ever to represent the country in a boat show. Other Bahamian organizations represented will be The Bahamas Out Island Promotions Board and the Marina Operators of The Bahamas. 

With the Islands of The Bahamas so close to South Florida, any efforts to improve marine tourism in the Bahamas impacts marine tourism in South Florida. The vast majority of boaters from all over the U.S. headed to the Bahamas pass through South Florida either upon departure or arrival back into the U.S.— meaning enhanced marine tourism for Florida. 

The Islands of The Bahamas is serious about cultivating and enhancing the marine tourism segment of its tourism product. The attractive specials that will be offered to show attendees were crafted following an expansive survey by The Bahamas Tourism Office. The findings of the survey plainly identified the type of incentive that would draw and motivate boaters to continue to visit The Bahamas. 

Confirmed guests for Friday's show include Earl Miller, General Manager Bahamas Tourist Office, Valery Brown, Sr. Director of Marketing, Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, Stephen Kappeler, President, Marina Operators of the Bahamas, Chavonne Darville, President, Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board and a host of other Talkin' Tourism friends.

This show is definitely one Flahamians everywhere should not miss. See you Friday morning beginning at 10:05 a.m.. If on the Treasure Coast or Grand Bahama, tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM; if elsewhere, point your computer's Internet browser to www.wpsltv.com. 

Talkin’ Tourism tries to never miss a chance to be where the action is and this week we have definitely found the action. The 52nd annual Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest boat shows in the world, begins this week (Thursday) and Talkin’ Tourism will be right in the thick of things! 

Broadcasting live from the media room at the Bahia Mar Hotel and Resort, this week’s edition will focus on the strong and vital marine connection between Florida and The Bahamas. 

According to Earl Miller, General Manager of The Bahamas Tourist Office in Plantation, Florida, “Our team has been working tirelessly towards the show and we are looking to garner maximum exposure and visibility towards luring more boats to the Bahamas. Boating is one of the most lucrative markets for The Bahamas and feeds all areas of the nation, especially the Out Islands."

Operation Blue Suit, St. Lucie Inlet Update, and Romantic Beaches

If you have ever thought about spending time on a beautiful island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, and one with fabulous fishing and world-class diving, after listening to Talkin' Tourism co-host Robin Hicks-Connor's first-hand account of her four-day Talkin’ Tourism “secret mission," you just might be on the phone now booking your own trip to San Salvador, Bahamas! Robin's mission was to see the island like a local, and by all accounts from Robin (and the very active coconut telegraph), she did that and probably a little more.

Listeners got to hear about Elvis, Peaches, Davey Crockett, Margonda, Hilton, Michelle and the great hospitality extended to Robin and her traveling cohort Lynn during their island getaway. Robin described the local night spot, the great local food, fabulous beaches and her personal tour of the island’s more remote areas. Her enthusiasm was off the hook (pun intended). Unfortunately, sea conditions were a bit uncooperative and she never encountered “the man in the blue suit” despite several attempts to visit his local haunts. Will Robin return for another try? We'll let you answer that question!

Other topics included a recap of the St. Lucie Inlet meeting on April 26 to discuss dredging and possible funding sources. Boaters from near and far, as well as those businesses who are impacted by the health of the marine industries, know this is a critical Treasure Coast, Florida issue. If you missed the meeting or last week's show, the audio file from last week's show will bring you up to speed.

Char Griggs, the executive director of the Stuart Sailfish Club, made a guest appearance on the show to share all the special details of this weekend's Stuart Sailfish Club Ladies Tournament. Will you be fishing? The weather is supposed to be great and rumor has it that History Lady is trying to field a team of ladies anglers. This Friday, we'll give you an update on any late-breaking tournament details.

Florida 2011 tourism numbers seem to be improving at a steady pace. Has that spread across the Gulf Stream to the Family Islands in the Bahamas? Talkin’ Tourism took a regional look and shared recent reports from the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board’s recent survey of hotels and resorts, which indicate better days seem to be on the horizon. If you'd like to hear those details, it's all on last week's show audio file, which you can download here.

Last, but not least, listeners learned about five of Florida's top-rated beaches by category. If you missed it, no problem, we've got you covered. Here's the audio file from last week to find out where you may want to go this summer for a nearby romantic beach vacation.

'See you' on Friday!