Bahamas Tourist Office  

Plantation,  FL 
United States

• Booth: 15, 13

Tourism is the economic engine of The Bahamas. Located 93 nautical miles from the Port of Miami, 107 nautical miles from Port Everglades and 239 nautical miles from Port Canaveral, The Bahamas has influenced the development of the cruise industry for the Caribbean region. Hosting in excess of 4 million visitors annually, the translucent seas of the 100,000 square-mile archipelago, caters to the world's leading cruise lines and smaller luxury liners. Renowned for its tranquility and pristine allure, Christopher Columbus reference his landing in the New World as the "Isles of Perpetual June". The people of The Bahamas are friendly and the rhythms of Goombay and Junkanoo, Rock Cakes and Rake 'n Scrape, Pirates and Buccaneers, Arts and Culture are the heartbeat of the island nation.

 Press Releases

• Bahamas Seeking to Grow Cruise Industry in 2017 (Feb 17, 2017)

  NASSAU, Bahamas - The Bahamas continues to be the number one cruise destination for millions of visitors and cruise lines around the world. That reputation is set to expand in 2017.

  Director General in the Ministry of Tourism Joy Jibrilu said the country’s leadership in the market is a result of a solid foundation built up through years of dedicated professionals succeeding in the industry.

  “This year, we will continue to grow and develop new ideas for the industry. The end result, we hope, is for each and every guest to enjoy their time in The Bahamas and spread the word,” she said.

  Major cruise lines that sail to The Bahamas include the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

  The lines call upon the cruise ports on Grand Bahama and the city of Nassau and the private islands of Great Stirrup Cay, Coco Cay, Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay, Princess Cays and the soon to be open Ocean Cay.

  The Bahamas features miles of sandy white beaches with breathtaking turquoise waters, friendly locals and tasty native dishes.

  Each year, new and exciting touristic developments emerge in the country.

  MSC Cruises is undertaking just such a development. The line has ambitious plans to create an unprecedented exclusive marine reserve island experience in The Bahamas.

  Following an agreement with the government, MSC is developing an island south of Bimini to be named Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The company broke ground on the development on January 15, 2017.

  Ocean Cay, a 95-acre island, will include family beaches, a tranquil lagoon, thrilling zip wire crossing, a pavilion for weddings and an exclusive spa and wellness sanctuary with private bungalows and massage huts, among other things. The island is set to receive guests on November 2018.

  Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has also been renovating its private island Great Stirrup Cay, located just off the Berry Islands in the north-western Bahamas. The private paradise offers fun for the entire family including a lagoon, private beach and a two-story restaurant with scenic views of the island. 

  Several new cruises by major operators were also added to The Bahamas in 2016, including the Carnival Vista, which has capacity for up to 5,000 guests and Royal Caribbean Harmony, which has a capacity for up to 5,400.

  The destination’s desire is for visitors to have the best possible experience onshore with a myriad of tours and excursions, and experiences to choose from.

  Part of the onshore fun includes museum and city tours, bar and restaurant delights and excursions available to guests including snorkeling and diving adventures, swimming with the dolphins and scores of shopping options in the Bay Street area. 

  Festival Place, the welcome center for visitors in Nassau, is nearing completion of renovations and will open soon. Once completed, it will be a hub of activity, information and a one-stop shop for all visitors in Nassau.

  The Bahamas ranks among the top 10 Caribbean countries for experiences in culture, entertainment, culinary and adventure. The Bahamas also ranks number one out of all English-speaking countries in the region, attracting the second highest number of all visitors to the Caribbean.

  In 2016, 29 million visitors traveled to the Caribbean.

  Figures from 2016 show that cruise visits to The Bahamas were up by 5.8 percent in 2016 over 2015. A total of 4,219,218 visitors cruised to The Bahamas through to November last year, compared to 4,066,530 for the same period in 2015. As a result, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars have been injected into The Bahamian economy as a result of the cruise industry.

• Top Ten Things To Do in Nassau and Grand Bahama (Feb 17, 2017)

  NASSAU, Bahamas —  Off the southern coast of Florida nestled in the western Atlantic Ocean sit the islands of The Bahamas.

  A collection of 700 islands and cays, millions of visitors flock to the white sandy beaches of these islands every year.

  Cruise ship visitors to Freeport, Grand Bahama, an island in the northern island chain and Nassau & Paradise Island, centrally located in the archipelago, can be choosey when it comes to the myriad of things to do in these island paradises.

  On Trip Advisor, the top ten activities listed for visitors to do in the Port of Nassau include:

  • Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis Paradise Island – This non-stop aquatic thrill ride features over 20 million gallons of water, incredible Atlantean-themed towers, thrilling high-speed water slides, a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids and wave surges, 20 swimming areas, a spectacular kids water-play fort and 11 unique and refreshing swimming pools. Cruise ship passengers can grab a taxi to Atlantis and purchase a day pass to experience this exciting water park. Visit www.atlantisbahamas.com for more information.

  • Blue Lagoon Island - Relax on a day trip to Blue Lagoon Island during this all-inclusive beach day from Nassau. Board a boat on Paradise Island for the short cruise through Nassau's harbor to your destination. Check out www.bahamasbluelagoon.com for information on their dolphin and sea lion programs.

  • Cable Beach -  This beautiful beach is located on West Bay Street. Visitors can catch a number 10 bus to this beach or grab a taxi. On site are jet ski operators, beautiful waters and a great stretch of sandy beach. There are also opportunities for snorkeling, paddle boarding, wind surfing, and parasailing too.

  • Tiki Bikini Hut - This native bar and restaurant is located on Junkanoo Beach just a short walk from the Port of Nassau. Visitors can order a cold Kalik, the beer of The Bahamas, and a fresh conch salad, among other tasty and delicious island drinks like Bahama Mamas, Rum Punches and others – all right on a beautiful beach.

  • John Watling’s Distillery - This distillery offers tours of the property, the Buena Vista Estate, in Downtown Nassau. The historic estate, founded in 1789 and overlooking the harbor, is the site where you can find Bahamians handcrafting John Watling’s small-batch rums and vodka. Check out www.johnwatlings.com for more information.

  • Queen’s Staircase - This limestone staircase was built by slaves to honor Queen Victoria's efforts in the abolition of slavery in The Bahamas. It is a gorgeous spot for photos.

  • Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Center - The Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre is a peaceful 80-year-old retreat spread over four acres of lush tropical gardens and is home to over 200 birds, reptiles and mammals. Check out www.ardastra.com.

  • Segway Tours – Take a tour of the city of Nassau on a Segway. Tours start a short distance from the cruise port and then it's off to explore Nassau's spectacular blue waters, beaches, and quaint eateries as you and your Segway glide along the sandy beaches on the ocean shoreline.

  • Pirates of Nassau Museum – This museum with its wax replicas of buccaneers, pirates, pirate ships and canons is the perfect way to learn about Nassau’s history as a Pirate’s Republic. Tours can be self-guided. For more information, log on to www.piratesofnassau.com.

  • Clifton Heritage National Park - Come to Clifton and explore nature and history. The park is home to the remains of Lucayan villages and plantations, as well as the setting to several movies of pop culture such as Jaws and the Bond series.

  Grand Bahama

  On Grand Bahama, the top 10 activities that visitors on Trip Advisor love to do are:

  • Taino Beach – A lovely beach known for its remote stretches of sand. Many of the hotels on the island offer ferry rides to this beautiful beach.

  • Garden of the Groves – A 12-acre garden full of tropical plants and animals. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island.

  • Port Lucaya - Port Lucaya Marketplace is the largest shopping, dining and entertainment open air facility in The Bahamas, with over forty specialty stores and boutiques, sixteen restaurants to tempt any palate and four bars/lounges for late night entertainment.

  • Shark Diving, UNEXSO -  Through the years UNEXSO has become world famous and known for pioneering the shark and dolphin dives in The Bahamas. For more information, check out www.unexso.com.

  • Horseback Riding Tours, Pinetree Stables - A two-hour trail ride from the top of Grand Bahama Island through five eco-systems including the beach and into the ocean. Check them out at www.pinetree-stables.com.

  • Barbary Beach - Located east of Lucaya, this beautiful beach is perfect for a couple seeking a private getaway.

  • Xanadu Beach - This beach is best known for its water sports and lounging areas, making it a popular tourist destination.

  • Treasure Reef - Named after the real treasure found in a sunken Spanish ship; now, this reef is explored only for its natural beauty.

  • Grand Bahama Nature Tours – This company has been one of the leading eco-tour operators on Grand Bahama Island for the past twenty years. The company provides kayaking, snorkeling, biking, hiking, jeep and bird watching tours. For more information log on to www.grandbahamanaturetours.com.

  • Fly WaterSports – Fly offers Jet Ski tours, Banana Boat rides, Glass Bottom, Kayaks, Zayaks and Pedal Boat tours. You can find them at www.flywatersportsfreeport.com.

  No matter where you end up in The Bahamas, you will have a joyous adventure. 

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