Vanderpool-Wallace: $5.8 million spent on Miss Universe pageant
Posted by Administrator on Sep 30, 2009
NASSAU, Bahamas — Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace has revealed that the government spent $5.8 million on the Miss Universe pageant that was held in The Bahamas last month.
“Now you can go back and you take a look at what was reportedly spent by Vietnam last year – it was $15 million. And the $5.8 million includes all the fees for Miss Universe; all the transportation by air, sea and land for several hundred persons; all the hosting costs across all islands of The Bahamas visited by contestants, media and staff. That’s it,” said Vanderpool-Wallace yesterday at a news conference at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.
Vanderpool-Wallace said private sector assistance was a major factor in keeping costs down for the government. He added that “without their support, there is no way we could have done what we did.”
The tourism minister did not provide an estimated cost for private sector expenditure on the pageant. This is the first time the government has provided a total cost for hosting the pageant.
Contestants taking part in the pageant began arriving to The Bahamas at the beginning of August. The final event was held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. However, pageant-related activities were held across the country.
