The Bahamas continues to ride a positive tourism wave.
As of the end of November 2023, foreign air and sea arrivals soared to 8,645,374, an astounding 41.8 percent surge compared to the same period in 2022.
“This substantial increase reflects The Bahamas' unwavering allure and growing popularity among global travellers,” officials said.
"Notably, air arrivals through November 2023, totaling 1,555,636, have eclipsed both 2022 and 2019 levels, boasting an impressive 18.6 percent upsurge over the same period in 2022," said I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.
Furthermore, sea arrivals for the year-to-date through November 2023 amounted to 6,938,193, a 49.1 percent escalation from 2022 and a 42.4 percent rise compared to 2019.
"This surge in sea arrivals underscores the consistent appeal and magnetism of our breathtaking islands among travellers worldwide," Cooper said.
It is noteworthy that all islands, including Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama and The Family Islands, have experienced record-breaking overall foreign air and sea arrivals during the first eleven months in 2023, with Bimini leading Family Island overall growth with 110 percent compared to 2022, and 925 percent compared to 2019.
Comparative foreign air arrivals only figures show Grand Bahama Island leading overall year-over-year growth by exceeding 2022 numbers by 38 percent, followed by Abaco, Nassau/Paradise Island, Bimini, Andros, Cat Island, Exuma, Eleuthera and Long Island, respectively.
Yours truly had the pleasure of spending a couple days on Long Island some years ago. It’s a remarkable, super-chill spot that’s only 6 km’s across at its widest point, but some 130 km’s long. There are only a couple resorts, which adds to the charm. If you’re looking for a place with beautiful beaches and not many people, and a place where you or your clients can truly escape. this is a great spot.
Eleuthera is much busier than Long Island but, being close to Nassau, it’s easier to reach and has several nice resorts. It’s not fancy, but I loved my tour at Unique Village. Considerably more upscale is the waterfront French Leave property, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
Nature enthusiasts will love the views at Eleuthera's Glass Window Bridge, where a narrow spit of land separates the (sometimes) angry Atlantic Ocean from the placid waters of the Caribbean.
Post-Dorian recovery shows Grand Bahama's overall visitor arrivals exceeding 2019 numbers by 3 percent and 2022 by 53 percent, while Abaco's overall recovery reflects 6 percent above 2019 and 27 percent beyond 2022 numbers.
Highlighting the hotel industry's flourishing performance, major New Providence/Paradise Island hotels witnessed a notable surge in November 2023, with foreign air arrivals exceeding the once-historic 2019 numbers by 17 percent that month.
These hotels recorded a substantial 70.6 percent occupancy rate, surpassing the 68.8 percent rate observed in November 2022.
Average Daily Room Rates surged by 16.7 percent, while revenue per available room soared by 20 percent, propelling overall room revenue to a commendable 16.8 percent increase during the month.
"Up to the end of November 2023, 35.8 percent of visitors from all regions embraced the charm of our islands once more, embodying the spirit of return,” Cooper noted. “Key source markets such as Africa, Canada, the USA, the Caribbean, Australasia, Europe, and Latin America displayed strong repeat visitor rates, symbolizing the enduring allure of The Bahamas."
During this period, the statistics indicated that 62.5 percent of stopover visitors chose The Bahamas primarily for leisure, followed by 16.9 percent for weddings and honeymoons, 5.7 percent seeking the thrill of our casinos, and 3.5 percent for business purposes.
"Such a diverse mix of interests and motivations underscores the multifaceted appeal of our islands, catering to varied preferences and interests," Cooper added.
"As we close out 2023, we should note that December has yet to be counted, and we expect to easily exceed the 9 million visitor arrival mark. These remarkable statistics serve as a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing unparalleled experiences, ensuring that The Bahamas remains a premier destination for discerning travellers worldwide."
