THE BAHAMAS
THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas
ISLANDS IN THE SUN
The islands of The Bahamas offer so many different
experiences that a ‘twin centre’
combination of Nassau and one
of the Out Islands offers a taste of the Caribbean’s diversity, says Jo Cooke
flavour and attractions that suit particular client groups – perhaps Mustique for those seeking exclusivity, Cuba for culture lovers and Antigua for beach lovers. Then there’s The Bahamas. This nation is made up of over 700 islands, 16 of which are geared up to welcome holidaymakers, and each one in turn has a unique personality. It’s not a destination that can be
T
pigeonholed, but that’s exactly what makes it full of sales potential, and with UK visitor numbers on the rise it clearly has ‘Brit appeal’. Lying east of Florida, The Bahamas archipelago stretches south across 750 miles of ocean until it reaches the Turks and Caicos. New Providence Island is home to the lively capital, Nassau, and is also the focal point for UK arrivals. BA flies to Nassau five times a
week from Heathrow, the only direct service from the UK. Nassau is also the nation’s transport hub. From here you can get to the other 15 tourist islands by plane or ferry. It’s not always easy to island hop in the Caribbean, but that’s not true of
he individual islands that comprise 'the Caribbean’ each have their own distinct
The Bahamas. This is one of the destination’s key selling points. In fact, clients who are visiting for a
week can easily enjoy a twin-centre, while those who have 10 to 14 days could experience three or more of the Out Islands.
However, for clients who just want
to ‘drop and flop’ New Providence is just the recommendation. Measuring 21 miles by seven miles, the transfer time to the main resort area of Cable Beach, a two-and-a-half mile stretch of white sand, is around 20 minutes. Another 15 minutes on and you can cross the bridge to Paradise Island, location of the Atlantis super- resort. Downtown Nassau, meanwhile, is full of colonial charm, bars, restaurants and duty-free shops. For those who do venture on,
Acklins Island is a wild and rugged retreat, Andros a divers’ paradise with the world’s third-largest barrier reef, while Inagua, with its salt flats and flocks of flamingos, will appeal to nature lovers. Then there’s remote seclusion on
Berry Island; Cat Island’s deserted beaches; great sailing from Mayaguana and those who opt for The Exumas can take boat trips
around tiny cays to swim the crystal- clear waters in
between them.
What’s New The Alexander von Humboldt, a historic tall ship, is offering sailing trips from Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. This striking century-old craft takes clients on a three-hour cruise around the coastline for US$89 and is fully commissionable. (
www.grandbahamanaturetours.com). On July 10 2013 The Bahamas mark 40 years of independence. Celebrations will take place nationwide throughout the year promising holidaymakers a ream of colourful free events to see and take part in. The Bahamas Speed Week returns November 24-December 2. This classic car race took place annually in the 1950s and 1960s and was revived last year (
www.bahamasspeedweek.com).
Tourism Talk GIOVANNI GRANT Regional Manager Bahamas Tourist Office “We saw a seven per
cent growth in visitor arrivals from
www.sellinglonghaul.com • October 2012 35
selling tip “A Bahamas twin-centre
helps clients get more from their holiday and racks up commission by booking flights and ferries"
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