2. Tourism in The Islands of The
Bahamas
The Research and Statistics Dept.
3. Islands of the Bahamas:Past
• In the early 1800’s Tourism in the Bahamas
was relatively unexplored as a means for many
Bahamians to earn a good living. By the end
of the 1800’s, more efforts were placed on this
important industry.
• By 1875, Nassau received 500 visitors.
• In 1949, The Bahamas namely the island of
New Providence received 32,018 visitors.
4. Islands of the Bahamas:Past
• After 1949, The Bahamas began to see a steady
growth in the Tourism Industry especially on the
island of New Providence. By 2005, the island
of New Providence had welcomed almost 3
million visitors (air & sea arrivals) by itself.
• In the early 1960’s Grand Bahama was not to be
out done. The growth in arrivals to Grand
Bahama between 1962 (13,269 arrivals) and
1964 (109,295) was outstanding.
5. Islands of the Bahamas:Past
• The best years for arrivals to Grand Bahama
were in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s (1987
to 1993). During these prosperous years for
the island, total arrivals ranged from 1.1
million to 1.2 million annually. Much of this
prosperity was due to cruise arrivals which
made up between 45% to 50% of the total
arrivals to the destination.
6. Islands of the Bahamas:Past
• The Out Islands of the Bahamas had some growth
before 1973 but it was after 1973 that steady growth to
these islands was collectively realized.
• In 1971, most of the visitors who came to the Bahamas
did so by air (66.3%) and only a little over 1/3 (33.7%)
of them came by sea. By the early 1980’s it was clear
that the way people travelled to the Bahamas was about
to change.
• By 2009, the mix of arrivals was the total reverse of
1971 as over two-thirds of the visitors who came to the
Bahamas now did so by sea (73%) and 27% of them
came by air.
7. Tourism Performance 2009/2008 &
2010/2009 Half Year?
• Recession
began
Dec. 2007
• Financial
Meltdown
September
2008.
• Improvem
ents in
Half Year
2010
evident.
• Air
arrivals up
in 2010
when they
were
down in
2009
FOREIGN AIR AND SEA ARRIVALS TO THE BAHAMAS
1ST PORT OF ENTRY ONLY
Full Year Half Year
2009 2008 2009/2008 2010 2009 2010/2009
Air and Sea % Chg Air and Sea % Chg
Nassau/Paradise Island 2,677,120 2,496,058 7.3% 1,498,662 1,427,541 5.0%
Grand Bahama 578,812 558,177 3.7% 391,176 283,906 37.8%
Abaco 216,357 247,808 -12.7% 92,366 108,563 -14.9%
Andros 8,977 9,747 -7.9% 4,967 5,390 -7.8%
Berry Islands 423,506 411,615 2.9% 280,067 224,733 24.6%
Bimini 50,877 45,716 11.3% 24,101 25,064 -3.8%
Cat Cay 12,336 11,322 9.0% 6,137 6,493 -5.5%
Cat Island 1,643 3,080 -46.7% 763 1,331 -42.7%
Eleuthera 239,902 260,987 -8.1% 179,267 150,801 18.9%
Exuma 18,317 30,262 -39.5% 15,405 12,620 22.1%
Half Moon Cay 402,067 299,792 34.1% 202,875 189,051 7.3%
Inagua 698 1,347 -48.2% 554 421 31.6%
Long Island 880 946 -7.0% 970 471 105.9%
San Salvador 13,623 16,715 -18.5% 9,289 8,121 14.4%
Bahamas Overall 4,645,115 4,393,572 5.7% 2,706,599 2,444,506 10.7%
Source: Immigration and Customs various ports of entry in the Bahamas.
9. Cruise Tourism:The Bahamas
• When Cruise Tourism came of age it became
obvious that it was here to stay. This meant
that destinations globally had to make the
decision of whether or not they would embrace
it or be left behind.
• The Bahamas decided to embrace it and as a
result cruise arrivals to the destination
exploded.
10. Cruise Tourism:The Bahamas
• One of the benefits of having embraced Cruise
Tourism in the early years was that The
Bahamas became the top cruise destination for
cruise arrivals in the region and stayed there.
• Between January and June 2010, 71% of all
cruises to the Bahamas were Bahamas Only
cruises.
11. Cruise Tourism:The Bahamas
CRUISE ARRIVALS TO THE BAHAMAS
1ST PORT OF ENTRY ONLY
January to December 2009 January to June YTD
2009 2008 2009/2008 2010 2009 2010/2009
Cruise Arrivals % Chg Cruise Arrivals % Chg
Nassau/Paradise Island 1,713,725 1,471,835 16.4% 958,407 902,626 6.2%
Grand Bahama 376,502 312,780 20.4% 280,601 167,909 67.1%
Abaco (Castaway Cay) 136,514 149,389 -8.6% 43,352 63,426 -31.6%
Berry Islands 415,022 401,718 3.3% 275,484 220,372 25.0%
Eleuthera (Princess Cay) 211,950 225,626 -6.1% 158,355 133,935 18.2%
Half Moon Cay 402,067 299,792 34.1% 202,875 189,051 7.3%
Bahamas Overall 3,255,780 2,861,140 13.8% 1,919,074 1,677,319 14.4%
• Cruise incentives offered to major cruise lines. GBI cruise up
because of Carnival, Norwegian & Bah. Celebration (for 2010)
14. Stopover Visitors:The Bahamas &
Region
STOPOVER VISITORS
TOP 10 REGIONAL COMPETITORS
1997 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
%Chg
97/09
All Bahamas 1,617,595 1,608,153 1,600,862 1,527,727 1,463,006 1,327,006 -18%
N. PROV./P.I.(BAH.) 840,515 1,019,017 1,019,198 960,768 929,249 864,016 3%
G.B. ISLD.(BAH.) 512,710 316,265 298,937 279,193 265,176 228,744 -55%
OUT ISLDS.(BAH.) 264,370 272,871 282,727 287,766 268,581 234,246 -11%
Dominican Republic 2,211,394 3,690,692 3,965,055 3,979,582 3,979,672 3,992,303 81%
Cuba 1,170,083 2,319,334 2,220,567 2,152,221 2,348,340 2,429,809 108%
Cancun 2,621,268 2,134,180 1,586,942 2,022,302 2,165,320 1,891,448 -28%
Jamaica 1,192,000 1,478,663 1,678,905 1,700,785 1,767,271 1,831,097 54%
Puerto Rico 814,000 1,465,292 1,485,296 1,359,638 1,323,795 1,300,783 60%
Aruba 649,893 732,514 694,372 772,073 622,675 812,623 25%
US Virgin Islands 392,900 697,033 671,362 693,372 678,904 666,051 70%
Barbados 472,290 547,534 562,558 574,533 567,667 518,564 10%
Martinique 513,230 484,127 502,053 503,107 479,933 443,202 -14%
St. Maarten 439,234 467,861 467,804 469,407 475,410 440,185 0%
• In 1997,
Bah. was
no. 3 in
region.
• By 2009,
Bah. was
no. 5 in
stopovers
• Cuba hotel
rooms
increased
• Jamaica all
inclusives
• Cheaper
competitors
15. How Did The Bahamas Perform With
Stopovers?
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS
Full Year Half Year
2009 2008 % CHG 2010 2009 % CHG
New Providence 864,016 929,249 -7.0% 493,011 468,251 5.3%
Grand Bahama 228,744 265,176 -13.7% 125,690 131,342 -4.3%
Abaco 81,632 97,671 -16.4% 52,752 47,103 12.0%
Bimini 50,144 42,431 18.2% 19,687 24,207 -18.7%
Eleuthera (mainland) 19,891 24,389 -18.4% 15,860 11,620 36.5%
Harbour Island 10,674 11,638 -8.3% 6,471 6,937 -6.7%
Exuma 20,594 33,909 -39.3% 15,174 14,412 5.3%
San Salvador 14,701 18,340 -19.8% 9,239 9,018 2.5%
Andros 7,323 9,204 -20.4% 4,640 4,538 2.2%
Other Out Islands 29,287 30,999 -5.5% 14,158 17,216 -17.8%
All Bahamas 1,327,006 1,463,006 -9.3% 756,682 734,644 3.0%
*Eleuthera numbers exclude Harbour Island stopovers. Total Eleuthera showed a 20% increase for Half Yr. 2010
16. Which Island In The Bahamas Received
The Most Stopover Visitors?
17. Tourism Performance by Major Market
2009/2008 & 2010/2009
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS BY COUNTRY
Half Year
2009 2008 % Chg 2010 2009 % Chg
1USA 1,068,726 1,177,271 -9.2% 611,578 598,227 2.2%
2CANADA 107,041 114,960 -6.9% 68,313 62,442 9.4%
3EUROPE 78,816 93,803 -16.0% 39,346 39,829 -1.2%
4CARIBBEAN 18,856 22,528 -16.3% 8,659 9,198 -5.9%
5LATIN AMERICA 18,684 16,257 14.9% 9,404 7,651 22.9%
6OTHER COUNTRIES 34,883 38,187 -8.7% 19,382 17,297 12.1%
TOTAL STOPOVERS 1,327,006 1,463,006 -9.3% 756,682 734,644 3.0%
18. Where Did Visitors to The
Bahamas Come From:The Bah.WHERE DO THE STOPOVER VISITORS COME FROM
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
2009
USA
80.5%
CANADA
8%
EUROPE
6%
CARIBBEAN
1%
LATIN
AMERICA
1%
OTHER
3%
19. Top States That Brought Business to The
Bahamas in 2009
• Recession
• Florida biggest
market plagued
with
foreclosures,
California too
• Unemployment
US 5% 2007,
10% Dec. 2009
• Unemployment
Bah. 7.9% 2007
& 14.2% 2009
TOP STATES THAT BROUGHT BUSINESS TO THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
STATES 2009 2008 % CHG
1FLORIDA 267,441 288,857 -7%
2NEW YORK 137,973 144,636 -5%
3NEW JERSEY 72,580 80,103 -9%
4TEXAS 49,906 50,885 -2%
5CALIFORNIA 45,031 52,354 -14%
6PENNSYLVANIA 43,103 48,268 -11%
7MASSACHUSETTS 41,436 45,250 -8%
8VIRGINIA 34,773 36,419 -5%
9GEORGIA 34,156 39,135 -13%
10ILLINOIS 31,609 36,015 -12%
11MARYLAND 28,757 32,056 -10%
12NORTH CAROLINA 27,948 34,248 -18%
13CONNECTICUT 24,220 27,960 -13%
14OHIO 22,963 27,882 -18%
15MICHIGAN 21,104 23,695 -11%
16SOUTH CAROLINA 14,686 17,344 -15%
17TENNESSEE 12,679 15,209 -17%
18COLORADO 11,913 13,541 -12%
19INDIANA 10,831 12,850 -16%
20MISSOURI 9,403 10,954 -14%
21WISCONSIN 9,118 9,931 -8%
22MINNESOTA 8,998 10,127 -11%
23LOUISIANA 8,744 8,641 1%
24ALABAMA 7,704 9,226 -16%
25KENTUCKY 7,220 8,191 -12%
26OTHER 84,430 93,494 -10%
TOTAL USA 1,068,726 1,177,271 -9.2%
20. Top States That Brought Business to The
Bahamas in Half Year 2010
TOP STATES THAT BROUGHT BUSINESS TO THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS
HALF YEAR 2010
STATES 2010 2009 % CHG
1FLORIDA 134,051 138,307 -3%
2NEW YORK 76,280 77,169 -1%
3NEW JERSEY 39,544 39,047 1%
4MASSACHUSETTS 28,580 27,589 4%
5TEXAS 28,560 26,716 7%
6PENNSYLVANIA 26,165 25,517 3%
7CALIFORNIA 23,032 22,343 3%
8GEORGIA 22,703 18,051 26%
9VIRGINIA 19,726 18,705 5%
10ILLINOIS 18,015 18,667 -3%
11MARYLAND 16,850 15,189 11%
12CONNECTICUT 16,842 14,958 13%
13NORTH CAROLINA 16,706 16,075 4%
14OHIO 14,290 13,478 6%
15MICHIGAN 13,735 13,462 2%
16SOUTH CAROLINA 8,461 8,605 -2%
17TENNESSEE 8,403 7,293 15%
18INDIANA 7,767 6,496 20%
19COLORADO 6,656 7,116 -6%
20WISCONSIN 6,250 6,000 4%
21MINNESOTA 6,194 6,253 -1%
22MISSOURI 5,338 5,463 -2%
23ALABAMA 5,306 4,648 14%
24LOUISIANA 4,996 5,669 -12%
25NEW HAMPSHIRE 4,491 4,460 1%
26OTHER 52,637 50,951 3%
TOTAL USA 611,578 598,227 2.2%
• As no. of
jobs losses
declined &
foreclosures
slowed
business
picked up.
• Free
Companion
Airfare
21. TOP CANADIAN PROVINCES THAT BROUGHT
VISITORS TO THE BAHAMAS
TOP CANADIAN PROVINCES
STOPOVER VISITORS
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
Half Year
PROVINCES 2009 2008 % CHG 2010 2009 % CHG
1ONTARIO 58,253 65,124 -11% 37,126 33,793 10%
2QUEBEC 15,604 15,370 2% 8,773 9,225 -5%
3ALBERTA 7,715 9,587 -20% 4,893 4,739 3%
4BRITISH COLUMBIA 5,287 6,091 -13% 3,003 2,915 3%
5NOVA SCOTIA 1,666 1,689 -1% 1,207 1,160 4%
6MANITOBA 1,599 1,542 4% 1,063 1,092 -3%
7SASKATCHEWAN 1,174 1,094 7% 927 804 15%
8NEW BRUNSWICK 914 836 9% 768 642 20%
9NEWFOUNDLAND 525 567 -7% 499 361 38%
10PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 205 175 17% 204 141 45%
11OTHER PROVINCES 14,099 12,885 9% 9,850 7,570 30%
TOTAL CANADA 107,041 114,960 -7% 68,313 62,442 9%
• Canadian economy improved quickly. Before
recession, stopovers from Canada were highest they
had been in 25 yrs.
22. TOP EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT BROUGHT
BUSINESS TO THE BAHAMAS
TOP EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
STOPOVER VISITORS
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
Half Year
2009 2008 % Chg 2010 2009 %Chg
1UK 26,400 34,567 -24% 11,911 13,499 -12%
2FRANCE 13,667 14,423 -5% 6,749 7,767 -13%
4ITALY 9,269 10,866 -15% 4,460 4,299 4%
3GERMANY 8,236 10,526 -22% 4,285 3,722 15%
5SWITZERLAND 3,811 4,169 -9% 2,009 1,844 9%
7NETHERLANDS 1,924 2,657 -28% 1,092 939 16%
6SPAIN 1,979 2,122 -7% 952 819 16%
8SWEDEN 1,552 1,762 -12% 922 839 10%
9AUSTRIA 1,533 1,657 -7% 774 794 -3%
10BELGIUM 1,436 1,752 -18% 724 724 0%
11NORWAY 1,088 1,358 -20% 645 614 5%
12RUSSIA 822 414 99% 609 328 86%
13IRELAND 1,184 1,501 -21% 553 733 -25%
14OTHER 5,915 6,029 -2% 3,661 2,908 26%
TOTAL 78,816 93,803 -16% 39,346 39,829 -1%
Slovakia was no. 23 in Half Year 2010 with stopovers. Stopovers increased in 2009 &
2010 from here.
• Recession
hit
Europe
very hard.
• Some
Countries
entered
into a
debt
crisis, e.g
Greece
23. TOP LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES THAT BROUGHT
BUSINESS TO THE BAHAMAS
TOP LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES
STOPOVER VISITORS
Half Year
LATIN AMERICA 2009 2008 %CHG 2010 2009 % CHG
1BRAZIL 4,309 3,863 11.5% 2,483 1,941 27.9%
5MEXICO 3,895 3,590 8.5% 1,631 1,225 33.1%
3ARGENTINA 2,579 2,050 25.8% 1,597 1,214 31.5%
4VENEZUELA 2,153 1,826 17.9% 788 802 -1.7%
5COLOMBIA 1,281 809 58.3% 775 513 51.1%
6PERU 807 800 0.9% 361 314 15.0%
7PANAMA 639 546 17.0% 352 252 39.7%
8CHILE 548 537 2.0% 286 264 8.3%
9ECUADOR 487 544 -10.5% 292 217 34.6%
10COSTA RICA 372 401 -7.2% 173 252 -31.3%
11GUATEMALA 312 228 36.8% 143 127 12.6%
12EL SALVADOR 257 214 20.1% 63 87 -27.6%
13PARAGUAY 250 194 28.9% 21 24 -12.5%
14URUGUAY 230 194 18.6% 182 127 43.3%
15HONDURAS 194 179 8.4% 77 99 -22.2%
16BOLIVIA 158 83 90.4% 60 75 -20.0%
17BELIZE 123 120 2.5% 60 79 -24.1%
18NICARAGUA 90 79 13.9% 60 39 53.8%
TOTAL 18,684 16,257 14.9% 9,404 7,651 22.9%
24. How Did The Visitors Come To The Bah
MODE OF ARRIVAL
THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
Nassau Grand Bahama Out Islands All Bahamas % CHG
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 09/08
Airline 827,577 889,733 147,922 172,763 134,022 170,5511,109,521 1,233,047 -10.0%
Private Plane 23,211 25,926 6,433 8,699 44,623 48,322 74,267 82,947 -10.5%
Cruise Ship* 2,431 3,171 54,092 63,417 585 1,516 57,108 68,104 -16.1%
Yacht/Private Boat 6,016 6,062 17,253 16,810 47,580 41,200 70,849 64,072 10.6%
No Response 4,781 4,357 3,044 3,487 7,436 6,992 15,261 14,836 2.9%
Total 864,016 929,249 228,744 265,176 234,246 268,5811,327,006 1,463,006 -9.3%
28. How Did the Hotels Perform:Hotel
Occupancy
• Hotel Occupancy levels plummeted after the
Financial Meltdown in 2008.
29. How Did the Hotels
Perform:ADR?
• Average Daily Rate was up in 2008 before the
financial meltdown. By 2009, the ADR had fallen.
30. How Long Did Visitors Stay
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
Eleuthera* 11.6 10.8 10.4 10.4 11.0 11.3
Abaco 10.5 9.8 9.3 9.4 9.9 10.0
Andros 10.2 8.7 8.7 9.4 9.9 9.3
San Salvador 8.7 8.7 8.7 8.7 8.6 8.9
Exuma 9.4 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.0 8.2
Bimini 8.1 7.6 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.6
Harbour Island 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.7 6.6 6.5
Grand Bahama 6.5 6.2 6.2 6.1 6.2 5.5
Nassau/Paradise Island 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.6 5.7
Out Islands 9.8 9.2 9.1 9.0 9.5 9.7
All Bahamas 6.8 6.6 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.3
*The average stay above for Eleuthera does not include Harbour
Island.
31. How Long Did Visitors Stay:Country
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
USA 6.3 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.9 5.9
Canada 8.4 7.9 8.5 8.7 8.8 9.0
Europe 10.2 9.7 10.1 10.5 10.6 10.3
Caribbean 8.8 8.7 9.3 8.6 8.3 8.7
Latin America 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.9 6.1 6.3
ROW 9.6 9.5 9.9 9.4 8.9 9.2
• Europeans have a longer stay because: they have
longer vacations than Americans & they travel
much further to get here.
32. Why Did Visitors Come to The Bah?
MAIN REASON FOR THIS VISIT TO THE BAHAMAS
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
Bahamas Nassau/P.I Grand Bahama Out Islands
Vacation 70% 71% 69% 67%
Business Trip 6% 6% 9% 6%
Honeymoon 5% 5% 4% 3%
Visiting Friends/Rel. 6% 5% 5% 7%
Convention/Conf. 2% 2% 3% 1%
To Attend Wedding 4% 5% 3% 3%
To Get Married 1% 1% 0% 1%
Casino Excursion 1% 1% 1% 0%
Other 3% 2% 2% 8%
33. What Influenced Visitors to Visit:Bah?
TOP INFLUENCES FOR DECIDING TO VISIT THE BAHAMAS
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
2009
Bahamas Nassau/P.I. Grand Bahama Out Islands
Beaches 59% 59% 59% 60%
Climate 51% 51% 50% 48%
Rest and Relaxation 42% 42% 44% 40%
Friendly People 27% 26% 27% 34%
Hotel Facilities 24% 31% 14% 12%
Easy to Get to 22% 24% 22% 17%
Never Been Here Before 20% 20% 24% 17%
Safety of Islands 17% 16% 15% 21%
Good Package Deals 14% 16% 14% 5%
Exotic Islands 12% 12% 10% 16%
Friend recommended Bah. 12% 11% 11% 15%
Sports 11% 7% 12% 24%
Had Friends in Bah. 10% 9% 10% 15%
Casinos 10% 13% 8% 0%
Best Value for Money 9% 8% 14% 7%
Heard a lot about Bahamas 8% 8% 8% 9%
Other 7% 6% 10% 9%
Shopping 5% 6% 6% 2%
Nightlife 4% 5% 4% 2%
Travel Agent/Tour Operator 4% 5% 3% 4%
Bahamas Website 3% 3% 4% 3%
Saw Ad on TV 2% 3% 1% 1%
Saw Ad in Magazine 1% 1% 1% 1%
No Response 5% 4% 5% 6%
34. What Activities Did Visitors Intend to Do
While in The Bahamas?
ACTIVITIES VISITORS INTENDED TO DO ON THIS VISIT TO THE BAHAMAS
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
2009
Bahamas Nassau/P.I. Grand Bahama Out Islands
Enjoy Beaches 83% 84% 84% 78%
Rest and Relax 74% 76% 75% 67%
Shop 34% 37% 42% 15%
Go Snorkeling 33% 29% 34% 49%
Go to Casinos 25% 31% 23% 1%
Go on Island Tour 17% 16% 20% 16%
Go Diving 11% 8% 13% 19%
Go Sailing 7% 5% 8% 14%
Go Deep Sea Fishing 6% 5% 7% 11%
Go Golfing 4% 4% 6% 3%
Go Bonefishing 4% 2% 4% 12%
Other Activities 3% 2% 4% 3%
Go Birdwatching 2% 1% 3% 6%
No Response 4% 4% 5% 5%
35. How Many of Our Visitors Have Been
to The Bahamas Before?
REPEAT VS. FIRST TIME VISITOR
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
REPEAT VISITOR FIRST TIME VISITOR
2009 2008 2009 2008
Nassau/P.I. 59.2% 56.5% 40.5% 43.0%
Grand Bahama 59.4% 56.9% 40.6% 42.7%
Out Islands Overall 67.5% 68.9% 32.1% 30.3%
All Bahamas 60.7% 58.8% 39.0% 40.6%
Source:Tour Media Exit Surveys 2009 and 2008
36. Did They Say They Would Come Back
to the Bahamas?
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
LIKELIHOOD TO RETURN
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
Likely to Return
Not at all Likely to
Return
2009 2008 2009 2008
Out Islands Overall 91% 92% 8% 7%
Nassau/P.I. 86% 86% 13% 13%
Grand Bahama 84% 82% 16% 17%
All Bahamas 87% 87% 13% 13%
37. Did They Say They Would
Recommend the Bahamas?
ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS
LIKELIHOOD TO RECOMMEND
STOPOVER VISITORS
2009
Likely to Recommend
Not at all Likely to
Recommend
2009 2008 2009 2008
Out Islands Overall 96.1% 96.6% 3.1% 2.8%
Nassau/P.I. 92.7% 92.3% 6.9% 6.9%
Grand Bahama 91.5% 88.8% 8.3% 9.8%
All Bahamas 93.1% 92.5% 6.4% 6.6%
38. How Much Did Visitors Spend in the
Bahamas?
• In 2009, visitors to the Bahamas spent over $2
billion dollars in the economy of the Bahamas.
• The average spend for stopover visitors
(visitors who stayed in the destination for 24
hours or more) was $1,375. The average
spend for a cruise visitor was approximately
$63.
39. • Tourism in the Bahamas has certainly been
through some challenging times and difficult
changes. Some of the changes have been good,
others have given us pause for thought. The
one thing that we know is that despite the
challenges that the Bahamas has faced,
Tourism was and always will be the lifeblood
of our economy and our great hope for
sustainability.
