The areas that produced significantly more visitors to Nassau/Paradise Island than in the same period of 2004 were New York, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce.
An increase in travelers from primary source markets in the United States accounted for significant increases in New Providence and many of the Family Islands in September, according to recently released statistics compiled by the Ministry of Tourism’s Research Department.
The report on industry trends attributed the development to a boost in activity through Designated Market Areas [DMA].
In September, there were 72,860 foreign air arrivals to The Bahamas, with more than 54,000 of them traveling to Nassau/Paradise Island, over 10,000 going to Grand Bahama and nearly 3,000 flying to Abaco.
The areas that produced significantly more visitors to Nassau/Paradise Island than in the same period of 2004 were New York, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce.
For Grand Bahama a hike in travelers was recorded from the source markets of New York, West Palm Beach. Fort Pierce, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Washington DC, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Tampa- St Pete [Sarasota] which had increases of 1000 percent.
The number of visitors from Orlando Daytona Beach to Grand Bahama was also up significantly.
Abaco, Andros, Berry Islands, Cat Cay, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and San Salvador all reported increases.
But tourism officials were quick to point out that the reason behind the considerable increase in air and sea arrivals to The Bahamas in September 2005 over the same period in 2004 was because of the destruction that Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne caused last year.
Those storms pummeled the islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and Bimini.
On the other hand, according to the report, there was a decline in air arrivals to Long Island which only recorded 30 visitors compared to the 32 visitors who traveled there in September 2004. Inagua’s figures remained the same at 5.
The Bahamas Central Bank reported in one of its monthly Economic and Financial Developments report that up to September of this year there was a 3.1 percent contraction in arrivals to 3.8 million for The Bahamas. Analysts reported that the downturn was concentrated in Grand Bahama where overall visitors decreased by 19.9 percent, showing a decline in both air and sea arrivals.
The positive performance in New Providence continued to aid developments in the tourism sector.
The tourism report also noted that the devastation wrought by the twin storms last year compared to this year accounted for the substantial increase in sea arrivals to The Bahamas in September 2005.
“Cruise arrivals to Nassau/Paradise Island were up primarily because Disney Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines brought in more passengers in September 2005 than in the same period of 2004,” it noted. “Disney Cruises brought in 54 percent more passengers [7,326] in September 2005 than in September 2004 even though they only operated the Disney Wonder.”
The increase recorded in cruise arrivals to Nassau/Paradise Island was also said to be due to the fact that Holland American Cruises brought in more passengers during the month of September. The same was said of Imperial Majesty Cruises Regal Empress.
Carnival Cruise Lines reduced its service to Nassau Harbour.
In Grand Bahama sea arrivals were up mainly because Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruises increased the number of cruise passengers as did Discovery Cruises.
By: Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal
