By JIMENITA SWAIN

Guardian Senior Reporter

jimenita@nasguard.com

NASSAU – Two weeks after the discovery of malaria on the island of Great Exuma, hotel operators say occupancy numbers are holding despite a slight fall off.

Antoine Chahwan, general manager of the Four Seasons Resort said, "We're very encouraged and happy with the good news, but we're going to have to wait and see how the rest of the world reacts." For the resort, success will be measured by how guests react to the news and if they continue to travel there.

At this point, he said, occupancy is at about 75 percent with the hope that those figures hold.

On the issue of how well the crisis was managed, Chahwan said, "The communication lines were open from day one. We chose to be forthcoming in choosing to tell our guests prior to arrival in Exuma, which will always buy goodwill for the future."

He admitted that some people may have some apprehension about coming right now, "but in the long term plans, they will always depend on the honesty and the level of communication that they see from Four Seasons and The Bahamas in general."

Similar sentiments were voiced by Chuck Roberts, manager of Palm Bay Beach Club. "Bookings are increasing. We're back in business I would say," he said, adding that they are seeing an even greater increase in reservations. "People are reinstating their bookings and we are back in order," he stressed.

Occupancy remains in the high eighties at present. He revealed that hoteliers were preparing to mount a private operation to fog the entire island before being assured by the Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Nottage, Saturday that all was well.

Meantime, in a press release, health officials updated the public regarding the case of malaria identified in an American visitor to Great Exuma on an extended stay.