Since 1998 Sol Kerzner's Atlantis, Paradise Island, has been a beacon for the gaming industry. Before it was built tourism, the major industry for the Bahamas, was in decline. Now it appears that competition is on the horizon in the shape of a consortium of European and American investors with $1.2 billion in their pockets for three hotels and a golf course, and a truly out-of-this-world project just approved by the government for the construction of MOON Bahamas that is not expected to open until 2010.

The Atlantis and the Wyndham Nassau in Cable Beach offer deluxe accommodation, so executives from Kerzner International suggest that Baha Mar Developments, who have signed contracts for the purchase of 200 hectares of Cable Beach, should build for the intermediate market. The Atlantis is adding 1,500 rooms to its complex, which will bring the total to 3,800 when completed in 2007. The Baha Mar project will have 2,500 rooms.

MOON Bahamas defies belief if one takes a trip around their website. Both it and their press release are full of superlatives: the world's largest, most expensive, most exclusive and most spectacular resort; five man-made islands which will house the world's largest casino, world's largest and tallest hotel; extravagant entertainment facilities, ten cruise ship terminals, 50 of the world's best restaurants, the world's largest resort wine cellar; huge convention centre and sports facilities which will include four PGA golf courses; one of the world's largest artificial coral reefs.

RJH Holdings claim that, when opened, MOON Bahamas will truly represent "the first wonder out of this world." The MOON Bahamas Team comprised of 120 international companies now "looks forward to beginning the project's next critical phase in early 2005" which will be exhaustive feasibility studies.

The face of Grand Bahama looks set to change and the Bahamas, ever a popular holiday choice, may become THE tourist destination of the future - who could resist an ice rink in the tropics, as proposed by MOON? Industry analysts consider that the success of the Atlantis has caused other developers to want a slice of the cake that Kerzner created, pointing out that in Florida two big companies, Universal and Disney, compete with each other as theme park destinations by offering different products. However, if you believe the hype, the MOON project seems to cover everything in and out of this world.

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