The Bahamas has topped all English-speaking Caribbean countries in total tourism arrivals, and come in second only to the Dominican Republic in stop-over tourists for the entire region, according to the latest statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
In it’s “Stay Over and Cruise Arrivals” report the CTO has determined that the Bahamas is, with more than 1.7 million cruise ship passengers and 800,000 stop-over visitors, leading in the total tourism arrivals to the English speaking Caribbean for the first six months of 2005, ahead of Jamaica and the U.s. Virgin Islands.
Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said that his ministry is ” extremely pleased” that the Bahamas has regained the number one spot.
“In the past we had lost that top slot, but our team has been working very hard to promote and market not only New Providence but also Grand Bahama, Abaco and the other family Islands. These destinations are now well on their way to gaining as much notoriety as New Providence,” he said.
The CTO’s report shows that the Bahamas has received 826,500 stop-over tourists and 1,728,895 cruise ship passengers from January to June this year.
These numbers, however, indicate a 2.5 per cent drop in stop-over visitors and a 5.7 drop in cruise ship passengers compared to last year.
Source: Karin Herig, The Tribune
