Bahamas Customer Arrivals Now at Pre-Pandemic (2019) Ranges

NASSAU, Bahamas – Within the first three quarters of 2023, The Bahamas welcomed greater than 7.2 million guests, equaling in 9 months the whole variety of arrivals for all of 2019, placing the nation squarely on course to welcome greater than 8 million guests this 12 months.

The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation can verify that arrivals by air and sea, from January by means of the tip of September 2023, numbered 7,209,165. Of this document variety of guests to our stunning islands, 1,332,752 got here by air and 5,876,413 got here by sea as whole arrivals are outpacing 2019 by 33 p.c.

Elaborating on the nation’s 2023 tourism efficiency, the Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, mentioned:

“The general aim of our efforts in tourism is to repeatedly improve customer arrival numbers to our vacation spot, 12 months after 12 months. Our tourism efficiency in 2023 has been spectacular on two fronts. We now have surpassed the tourism benchmark 12 months of 2019 throughout all metrics, and our customer arrival numbers are a powerful indication of a whole put up pandemic rebound.”

Cruise arrivals from the start of the 12 months by means of September are up 61% p.c over the corresponding interval in 2022, and 45 p.c forward of 2019.

Overseas air arrivals which embrace stopovers and day guests, are up 21 p.c over the identical interval in 2022 and stopover guests by means of September, are simply shy of the whole variety of stopover guests for a similar interval of 2019.

Resort occupancy is up over 2019, with common every day room charges and room income considerably forward of that 12 months. The Bahamas additionally continues to see positive aspects within the total spend of tourists onshore

. DPM Cooper hailed the outcome as a confluence of strategic planning and lodge and cruise operators’ continued confidence within the power of The Bahamas model.

“We are actually sure to have a document 12 months for tourism arrivals, and it’s no fluke.”

“We now have a number of the most engaging cruise locations within the area, with the brand new Port of Nassau making waves on social media and all through the journey sector. Nassau, Bimini, the Berry Islands, Half Moon Cay and different locations have seen exceptional progress in cruise arrivals prior to now two years, with extra guests coming off the ships and spending extra time onshore. This exercise is being felt all through the financial system.”

Stopover Guests Growing

DPM Cooper identified that the metrics are additionally altering with stopover guests.

“We see that room charges are almost 60 p.c increased than they had been in 2019, but occupancy charges are increased and room nights offered continues to extend.”

“This not solely interprets to increased income for all tourism stakeholders, but in addition speaks to the extraordinary demand that exists for our product. Importantly, we’re seeing a wholesome maintain in repeat guests from our principal supply markets, whereas witnessing main will increase in new arrivals who’re spreading the message about The Bahamas.”

Cooper mentioned the dedication of tourism stakeholders to offering new experiences and stellar service 12 months in and 12 months out has not solely helped The Bahamas tourism trade get well to pre-pandemic ranges however can also be pushing us towards gaining considerably extra market share within the area.

“We now have to be extremely intentional about tourism. The Ministry of Tourism and its companions spend quite a lot of time and power to higher perceive our prospects,” he mentioned. “What we all know is that with the initiatives underway in lots of our islands and, the following few years of redevelopment of airport infrastructure throughout our islands, we’ll proceed to develop our arrival numbers, barring any acts of God or international shocks.”

“That is the strongest tourism has ever been, and we solely count on our efficiency to get stronger.”

Associated