The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation has welcomed David L. Johnson, a familiar face, to the role of Director General of Tourism. A 39-year veteran in tourism and aviation and former Senior Deputy Director of Tourism, Johnson succeeds Vernice Walkine, who has joined the executive management team of the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) and Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).

Johnson joined the Ministry of Tourism in 1971 as part of the pilot sales training program for Bahamian executives in the Bahamas Tourist Office in North America. He has worked for the Ministry in many capacities, most recently in planning and business development, with airlift and cruise development. Prior to his appointment, he served as Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism and President of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism board.

Minister of Tourism Sen. Hon. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace commented, “We are fortunate indeed to have a candidate as qualified and capable as David Johnson for the role of Director General of Tourism. We have crafted some very creative strategies in response to the present global economic climate. These have begun to bear fruit and I am confident that Mr. Johnson will prove to be the right man in the right place at the right time.”

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, 800-Bahamas (224-2627), www.bahamas.com