2025 has been better for the Bahamas
After welcoming an impressive 11.2 million international visitors in 2024, the Bahamas is wasting no time in keeping up the momentum in 2025. According to Latia Duncombe, director general for the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, who addressed attendees at at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association conference in Antigua earlier this year, the destination recorded 3.3 million foreign air and sea arrivals in the first quarter alone, up 9% over the same period last year.
Duncombe points to more than $10 billion in infrascructure investment, upgraded airlift and development that touches nearly every inhabited island.
Reaching more islands than ever
With more than 20 international airports serving the Bahamas' 16 actively promoted islands, including Cat Island, Long Island and the forever-popular Nassau, accessibility is one of the strongest levers driving growth. That access continues to improve in 2025, thanks in large part to Makers Air, the Fort Lauderdale-based flyer that is doubling down on its investment in Out Island airlift.
Beginning Nov. 1, the airline will offer daily service from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to New Bight, Cat Island, and expand flights to Stella Maris, Long Island, to three times per week. These updates not only bring more visitors to islands that were previously harder to reach but also reflect the growing traveler appetite for destinations that offer a more off-the-radar Bahamian experience.
Beyond air arrivals, cruise travel continues to be a major driver of tourism income. According to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, cruise tourism generated $654.8 million in direct expenditures for the Bahamas during the 2023-2024 cruise year. When factoring jobs, taxes and other revenue, the total economic impact climbs to more than $1 billion, the association said.
The Grand Lucayan Resort redevelopment, seen here in a rendering, will include three new hotel buildings, a megayacht marina, overwater cabanas, a Greg Norman-designed golf course and a 25,000-square-foot casino. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Concord Wilshire Capital
The cruise sector's success has encouraged further infrastructure upgrades, with cruise lines investing in private island experiences and terminal enhancements across the archipelago. The Nassau Cruise Port, for example, is planning to add a $35 million waterpark complex. This is the next step following the $330 million redevelopment of the port in 2023 that included a new berth and revitalization of the piers.
Coming attractions
While the Out Islands gain steam, marquee developments are coming into key hubs like Grand Bahama and Nassau as well as farther afield islands like the Exumas. The $827 million redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Resort, for example, is a driving force. The sprawling project will include three new hotel buildings, a megayacht marina, overwater cabanas, a Greg Norman-designed golf course and a 25,000-square-foot casino, not to mention a family-friendly waterpark and upscale beach clubs.
One of the most significant new projects is Amancaya, a $260 million resort and residences development by Aman, set across two private cays in Exuma. The resort will feature 36 rooms, a marina, a beach club, a spa and restaurants. No opening date has been set.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Global tourist destinations are adopting Copenhagen's praised initiative to promote more conscious travel
CopenPay COPENHAGEN, Denmark , Aug. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A number of cities and tourist destinations in – among others – Germany and Finland are now planning to adopt a local version of the Copenhagen initiative, CopenPay, that allows tourists to 'pay' for local experiences with conscious actions and give back to the destination they visit. CopenPay has potential for tourist destinations globally, international expert says. Massive popular resistance, water guns, and locals demonstrating is the reality in many big cities and popular tourist destinations around the world, where tourism faces issues with overcrowding and visitor behavior. In clear contrast to these negative scenarios, Copenhagen has taken a forward-thinking initiative by engaging and rewarding tourists for their behavior. The aim of CopenPay is to inspire and nudge travelers about the choices they make when they travel. Copenhagen offers free boat tours and bike rentals and even a free lunch to tourists for collecting litter, choosing public transport or helping out in a communal garden. Last summer, the Danish Capital launched a new positive approach to tourism – CopenPay, rewarding tourists for making more conscious choices. And for its second run this summer Copenhagen now also rewards tourists who arrive by train and is furthermore urging tourists to generally travel less by rewarding longer stays. And now the positive Copenhagen approach is spreading internationally as a number of cities and tourist destinations are planning on creating their own local incentive schemes inspired of 'CopenPay'. Berlin, Bremen and Helsinki Since launching the CopenPay initiative the tourist board of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen, has been in contact with a wide number of other cities and tourist destinations all interested in adopting a local version of CopenPay. 'Since launching CopenPay last summer we've been met by an enormous interest from cities and tourist boards from Europe, Asia and North America, all wanting to know more about CopenPay and our learnings. So far, we have shared insights on CopenPay with more than 100 interested parties, and as we aim to contribute to a positive change globally, we are happy to share,' says Søren Tegen Petersen, CEO at Wonderful Copenhagen. One of those cities considering its own version – inspired by Copenhagen – is Berlin. 'CopenPay stands out as an inspiring example of how creative measures can effectively raise awareness for more sustainable travel. In Berlin, we share this ambition and are currently considering setting up a similar concept tailored to Berlin, in close collaboration with our partners from the visitor economy,' says Sabine Wendt, CEO visitBerlin. Also the capital of Finland is considering local initiatives, inspired by CopenPay:'CopenPay is a great initiative, and we would be delighted to build upon that spirit in collaboration with other destinations — aiming even higher, together. As a city situated by the sea, Helsinki is eager to collaborate across the Nordics and the Baltics to promote regenerative tourism and to launch a shared initiative focused on the restoration of the Baltic Sea", says Tourism Director Nina Vesterinen, City of Helsinki. In the German city of Bremen, they've launched a cooperative campaign with Deutsche Bahn, now developed further inspired by CopenPay: 'This year, Bremen Tourism once again launched a cooperative campaign with Deutsche Bahn to put the spotlight on sustainable travel. CopenPay served as a major inspiration, guiding us to develop new, creative ways to actively reward climate-friendly travel behavior. Overnight guests arriving in Bremen by train received a surprise bag filled with vouchers and small gifts from various local tourism businesses. The campaign was very well received by our visitors and has encouraged us to further expand the concept, strengthening Bremen as a sustainable destination. For 2026, we are planning an even larger initiative,' says Oliver Rau, Managing Director of Bremen Marketing and Tourism, Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH Global potential says expertUN projects a steep increase in global travel with the number of arrivals increasing globally from 1.4 billion in 2019 to 1.8 billion in 2030 – so there is a need to reconsider how we travel. And CopenPay is all about raising awareness about the choices we all make as tourists. The potential for developing local versions inspired of the Copenhagen initiative extents to destinations around the globe, says Rodney Payne, CEO of Destination Think – a Canada based consulting agency specializing in forward thinking development in the global tourism industry. 'With CopenPay, Copenhagen proves that bold ideas can inspire global change. This innovative model shows other destinations how to engage visitors in ways that are both sustainable and deeply connected to local life where travelers become active participants rather than passive consumers. So CopenPay holds huge potential for destinations around the world to adopt into their own local version,' says Rodney Payne. Contact informationGiuseppe LiverinoSenior Manager – Press & PR – Wonderful CopenhagenE-mail: glv@ Press photos from Copenhagen: Wonderful Copenhagen's press site: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Las Vegas tourism is down. Some blame Trump's tariffs and immigration crackdown
LAS VEGAS — Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad, and some officials are blaming the Trump administration's tariffs and immigration policies for the decline. The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11% drop compared to the same time in 2024. There were 13% fewer international travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Las Vegas tourism is down. Some blame Trump's tariffs and immigration crackdown
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad, and some officials are blaming the Trump administration's tariffs and immigration policies for the decline. The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11% drop compared to the same time in 2024. There were 13% fewer international travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Mayor Shelley Berkley said tourism from Canada — Nevada's largest international market — has dried up from a torrent 'to a drip.' Same with Mexico. 'We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that aren't so keen on coming in right now. And that seems to be the prevailing attitude internationally,' Berkley told reporters earlier this month. Ted Pappageorge, head of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, called it the 'Trump slump.' He said visits from Southern California, home to a large Latino population, were also drying up because people are afraid of the administration's immigration crackdown. 'If you if you tell the rest of the world they're not welcome, then they won't come,' Pappageorge said. Canadian airline data shows fewer passengers from north of the border are arriving at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Air Canada saw its passenger numbers fall by 33% in June compared to the same time a year ago, while WestJet had a 31% drop. The low-cost carrier Flair reported a whopping 62% decline. Travel agents in Canada said there's been a significant downturn in clients wanting to visit the U.S. overall, and Las Vegas in particular. Wendy Hart, who books trips from Windsor, Ontario, said the reason was 'politics, for sure.' She speculated that it was a point of 'national pride' that people were staying away from the U.S. after President Donald Trump said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state. 'The tariffs are a big thing too. They seem to be contributing to the rising cost of everything,' Hart said. At downtown's Circa Resort and Casino, international visits have dipped, especially from Canada and Japan, according to owner and CEO Derek Stevens. But the downturn comes after a post-COVID spike, Stevens said. And while hotel room bookings are slack, gaming numbers, especially for sports betting, are still strong, he said. 'It's not as if the sky is falling,' he said. Wealthier visitors are still coming, he said, and Circa has introduced cheaper package deals to lure those with less money to spend. 'There have been many stories written about how the 'end is near' in Vegas,' he said. 'But Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting.' On AAA's annual top ten list of top Labor Day destinations, Las Vegas slipped this year to the last spot, from number six in 2024. Seattle and Orlando, Florida — home to Disneyworld — hold steady in the top two spots, with New York City moving up to third for 2025. Reports of declining tourism were news to Alison Ferry, who arrived from Donegal, Ireland, to find big crowds at casinos and the Vegas Strip. 'It's very busy. It has been busy everywhere that we've gone. And really, really hot,' Ferry said. She added that she doesn't pay much attention to U.S. politics. Just off the strip, there's been no slowdown at the Pinball Museum, which showcases games from the 1930s through today. Manager Jim Arnold said the two-decade-old attraction is recession-proof because it's one of the few places to offer free parking and free admission. 'We've decided that our plan is just to ignore inflation and pretend it doesn't exist," Arnold said. 'So you still take a quarter out of your pocket and put it in a game, and you don't pay a resort fee or a cancelation fee or any of that jazz.' But Arnold said he's not surprised that overall tourism might be slowing because of skyrocketing prices at high-end restaurants and resorts, which 'squeezes out the low end tourist.' The mayor said the rising cost of food, hotel rooms and attractions also keeps visitors away. 'People are feeling that they're getting nickeled and dimed, and they're not getting value for their dollar,' Berkley said. She called on business owners to 'see if we can't make it more affordable' for tourists. 'And that's all we want. We want them to come and have good time, spend their money, go home,' the mayor said. 'Then come back in six months.' ___ Weber reported from Los Angeles. Ty Oneil And Christopher Weber, The Associated Press
