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Record-Breaking Year for The Bahamas Investments &


THE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Aviation


destination


has announced the has welcomed a


record-breaking 11.22 million international visitors in 2024, making it the best year ever, exceeding the 9.65 million arrivals in 2023. Despite a few disruptions to the tourism sector with natural occurrences such as Hurricanes Milton and Oscar,


the


United Airlines will restart its New York to Tel Aviv service this month


United to Restart Israel Route


UNITED Airlines has announced plans to restart its New York/Newark to Tel Aviv service on March 15, with a second daily flight planned to begin March 29. United has said that the resumption follows a detailed assessment of operational considerations for the region and close work with the unions who represent the airline’s flight attendants and pilots. The flights will be operated on Boeing 787-10s. This return will make United the first U.S.


airline to resume service this year. United also offers connections to Tel Aviv through partners including Lufthansa Group airlines. United has said it will continue to evaluate opportunities to restore additional flights based on demand.


destination flourished. Foreign air and sea arrivals shattered the previous year’s number by 16.2% and 2019 figures by 54.7%. Additionally, foreign air arrivals across the island nation exceeded 1.7 million in line with 2023 performance but ahead 2019 3.3%.


by


While The Bahamas is an ideal destination for year- round travel, December 2024 was the best month in terms of arrivals with 1.15 million visitors, posting 14% ahead of 2023 and 62% ahead of 2019. An illustration of the destinations’


&


The Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments


Aviation,


expressed his pleasure over these achievements.


“The Bahamas has not


only exceeded its targets but remains a steadfast global leader in the tourism industry and a dominant presence in the Caribbean region. These record-breaking achievements are a powerful testament to the tourism marketing strides by the Ministry of Tourism and the supportive dedication of our partners across the destination, who, alongside our passionate l o c a l s , continue to


offer


unparalleled experiences throughout our beautiful a


n d


culturally rich islands.” The cruise industry continues


to be a cornerstone of The


Bahamas’ economy, widespread


appeal can also be found in the distribution of these impressive arrival figures. Grand Bahama Island experienced an 8.7% growth in air arrivals, second only to Abaco, with a 11.9% growth over 2023 amounting to a solid return to pre-Hurricane Dorian and pre-COVID levels.


generating $654.8 million in cruise tourism expenditures during the 2023/2024 cruise year, according to a Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) report. When factoring in employment, taxes, and levies,


the total economic


impact surpasses an astounding $1 billion, underscoring the sector’s vital contribution to the nation’s growth and prosperity. Additionally, the


attraction Barrhead Travel Celebrate Record Start to February


BARRHEAD Travel celebrated a record start to February while it hosted its third annual Back to the Floor Day on Saturday 1st February. Trading was up by 58 percent compared


with the same Saturday last year, and finishing the weekend trading up 43 percent versus last year brought the strongest start to February in the group’s history. It comes after another record-breaking January with the group surpassing last year’s sales. On Saturday, more than 60 of the agency’s


senior management team, head office colleagues, and supplier partners went ‘Back to the Floor’ for the day to support retail teams across the country. The group reported consistent high footfall across its network which resulted in record-breaking sales for February. January also surpassed Barrhead Travel’s record-breaking start to 2024. Despite disruption from Storm Eowyn which caused cancellations and the day-long closure of half its network, the group reported that sales and enquiries across all channels have outstripped 2024 figures. Jacqueline Dobson, President of Internova Leisure, said: “We’re very pleased to be heading into February with a record-


breaking January under our belts. We’ve also enjoyed one of the strongest starts to February we’ve ever seen which chimes with our early predictions that peaks would continue well into the first quarter of the year.


“Our customers are not willing to sacrifice


or compromise on holidays, preferring to change their destination to maximise their budgets. All-inclusive holidays and cruising continue to be winners for the family market but bucket-list trips such as Japan, Canada and Australia have had sharp increases in interest. “Although people are mostly planning


ahead, our lates business is still strong and has accounted for almost 20 percent of new sales. Last-minute bookings are mainly for winter sun destinations like Canaries and Dubai so there’s clearly a desire to escape the weather back home. As half-term and Easter approached, I expect we’ll continue to see a similar pattern emerge.” Barrhead Travel’s Back to the Floor Day


was the group’s largest to date, and included Managing Director, Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, joining the Liverpool team on the sales floor while group President, Jacqueline Dobson, toured a number of the Scottish branches.


of more than $10 billion of Foreign Direct Investments over the last two years with prestigious global brands such as Rosewood, Six Senses, Montage, Park Hyatt, Bvlgari and Four Seasons Residences also played a part in the destination’s success and brand image, especially in the luxury market, in 2024. “We thank our partners and stakeholders across several industries, staff of the ministry of tourism, and the magnificent people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas who have embraced the mantra that ‘Tourism is Everybody’s Business,’ for this wonderful achievement,” DPM Cooper added. Said Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism, “The Bahamas’ exceptional tourism growth reflects our relentless drive to elevate the visitor experience and expand our global reach. These milestones are the result of innovative marketing strategies, strong industry partnerships, and the unwavering hospitality of the Bahamian people. As we build on this momentum,


we remain


committed to setting new standards in tourism excellence and welcoming even more travelers to our extraordinary islands.”


March 2025


NFL To Touchdown in Dublin in 2025!


THE Irish Minister for


Arts, Media,


Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and The Irish Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD,


has announced that Ireland is to host a regular season NFL fixture for the first time. Building on the successful past of hosting American football fixtures in Ireland, it will play host to a regular season NFL fixture in 2025. It is hoped that this fixture is a successful and entertaining event that can be built on and expanded in the future. Speaking on the announcement, Minister O’Donovan said: “This is a major vote of confidence in Ireland’s ability to host world class events and in Dublin’s reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world. Hosting a regular season NFL game in 2025 will have huge benefits for Irish tourism,


the wider economy, and our sports ecosystem. It will also build upon the deep cultural, family and economic ties between Ireland and the United States. I look forward to welcoming thousands of American football fans from the US, Europe and further afield to our shores for this historic game, and also to the ongoing collaboration with the NFL, Sport Ireland and American Football Ireland to grow American football participation in Ireland, both the tackle and flag format of the game, as part of the government’s commitment to increasing the


number of people


regularly participating in sport and physical activity.” Minister McConalogue added; “Ireland has already established itself as a key overseas home for American college


football with the


established success of the annual College Classic every August. Bringing the NFL to Dublin is a logical and natural next step and builds on the growing engagement among Irish sports fans with all forms of American football. It also builds on the deep relationships between Ireland and the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Rooney family, and I hope that the Rooneys and the Steelers Nation will feel like they’re coming home when they arrive in Ireland.”


Dubai Sees 14% Surge in UK Visitors


IN YET another remarkable annual performance, Dubai welcomed 1,327,000 UK visitors from January to December 2024, a 14% year-over- year increase that surpasses the previous year of 1,169,000 in 2023, according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). On an international level, Dubai welcomed


18.72 million international overnight visitors from January to December 2024, a 9% year-over- year increase that surpasses the previous record of 17.15 million in 2023. Marking consecutive years of record-setting growth for the city, as the UK remains a top source market, the achievement reinforces the city’s position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations,


and demonstrates the


success of its strategic approach in expanding the sector and investing in infrastructure and talent to meet growing demand.


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