World-Class Marine Anchorage Attracts Artists and Boaters from Around the Globe

The beautiful venue of Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage: a
destination attracting boaters from around the globe.

The broadcast from Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage was a perfect way to acknowledge the importance of our valued seasonal boaters who frequent the Treasure Coast. Harbormaster Buzz Billue set the stage early in the show by sharing Stuart's early maritime history when it served the marine trades and supply lines and eventually becoming a recreational boating destination. Sunset Bay Marina’s transition from an anchorage to a first-class marina is a welcomed evolution. 

In addition to Buzz, also sharing the spotlight were several valued seasonal boaters, including Ken Trepagnier and Dick Harding, who shared how they discovered Stuart and the Treasure Coast. Despite coming from different backgrounds, they both share a passion and love for the Treasure Coast. 

Ken Trepagnier, Nancy Turrel, Judy "JP" Nichols,
and Dick Harding combined the topics of marine tourism
and marine art for this week's episode of Talkin' Tourism.

Rusty Hightower, with Massey Yacht Sales and Service, also had high praise for the marina and Stuart area. The point was very well made that marine tourism is a very important part of the area’s tourism product. Pulling it all together, John Smith, representing the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC), explained how the organization works to keep the marine industry strong and vibrant.

Marinas and art do go hand-in-hand as pointed out by Nancy Turrell and Judy “JP” Nichols. Waterfront Wednesdays at Sunset Bay Marina, organized by the Arts Council of Martin County, is attracting marine artists from as far away as the Abaco’s (David Albury the famed model boat builder) to this great waterfront community event. Marine tourism? You better believe it! With as many slips as there are hotel rooms in Martin County, marine tourism is certainly a tourism component to acknowledge and to continue to promote. 

Here's the audio file to the December 9 episode of Talkin' Tourism to bring you up to speed on marine tourism, waterfront art events, and a whole lot more!

Treasure Coast: A Boating Mecca

Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage, Stuart, FL
PHOTO CREDIT: Sailblogs/svearendil

A drive around the Treasure Coast waterfront will attest to the fact that our valued seasonal boaters have returned en mass for another season. With so many miles of shoreline along the North and South Fork of the St. Lucie River, the wide Indian River Lagoon stretching the length of the Treasure Coast, and the Okeechobee Waterway/Cross Florida Canal connecting Florida’s West Coast to the East Coast, it is no wonder the Treasure Coast is a boating mecca.

This week we will broadcast live from Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage in Stuart, Florida. Featured in this week’s show will be Buzz Billue, the Sunset Bay Marina harbour master, who has a legendary history along the Treasure Coast waterfront, as well as John Smith, the president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC). Among the topics discussed will be the importance of marine tourism to the Treasure Coast, how can we continue to enhance our region as a boating destination, and the importance of the Islands of the Bahamas as a destination for many Treasure Coast boaters.

What does art have to do with marine tourism? Well, Judy “JP” Nichols, waterfront coordinator for the Arts Council of Martin County, along with the Council's executive director Nancy Turrell, will be in the studio to promote the Arts Council’s newest art celebration, Waterfront Wednesdays at Sunset Bay Marina. In addition to our main topics, we will also update listeners on the sailfish tournament season, what recent tournament set another record, what’s new in the Bahamas and around the Treasure Coast, and more.

See you on the docks Friday morning at 10:05! You can catch the show on your radio at WPSL 1590 AM or from your computer at www.wpsltv.com. Can you smell the salt air already?

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."