#Nassau, March 22, 2019 – Bahamas – The Bahamas received far more visitors to its shores in 2018 than in any previous year in its “entire history of being engaged” in the tourism business, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar said Wednesday.
The increase in tourism business in 2018 was experienced
nationwide — Nassau/ Paradise Island, Grand Bahama and in the major Family
Islands.
Mr. D’Aguilar also announced that the major hotels on Nassau and
Paradise Island recorded a 34% increase in room revenues during 2018, gains not
experienced in the past ten years
“This is welcomed, heart warming news, at a time when we are
endeavouring to drive our nation’s economy into higher gear,” Minister
D’Aguilar said.
Mr. D’Aguilar said foreign air and sea arrivals totaled 6.6
million visitors in 2018, compared to 6.1 million in 2017 – an increase of
486,176. Foreign air and sea arrivals to The Bahamas
were up by 7.9% between the months of January to December 2018, compared to the
same period of 2017.
Foreign air arrivals by themselves, were up by 16.7% between the
months of January to December 2018, compared to the same period of 2017. Air
arrivals to Nassau/Paradise Island were up in every month of 2018 compared to
2017. The major hotels in Nassau and Paradise Island recorded a 34% increase in
room revenues, gains not experienced in the past ten years.
In 2018, Grand Bahama saw a 9.1% year-over-year increase in
overall visitor arrivals. The Family Islands experienced similar increases,
collectively recording a 14.9% increase in foreign air and sea arrivals.
Minister D’Aguilar said the “handsome increase” in visitor
arrivals to The Bahamas, can be attributed to the successful elevation of the
awareness and visibility of The Bahamas’ brand.
“In the international marketplace, tourism is an arena of fierce
competition. Through strategic, dynamic advertising, marketing and
promotions, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, along with major
hotels and other key stakeholders, has been quite successful at elevating
awareness and visibility of The Bahamas brand among travel consumers,” Minister
D’Aguilar said.
“Over the last eighteen months, we have had several top brand
hotels come on stream, namely the full opening of Baha Mar with its signature
brands, the Rosewood, the Grand Hyatt and SLS. The increased room inventory has
generated increased airlift.”
Minister D’Aguilar said all indicators project that the upward trend will continue throughout 2019.
By Matt Maura
Release: BIS
Photo Caption: Minister D’Aguilar is pictured giving his tourism visitor arrival presentation, March 20, 2019 at the Ministry’s offices. Senior Ministry of Tourism and Aviation executives look on.
(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)