A hot year ahead for Bahamas

Following a major update to the Canadian travel trade earlier this year, there’s still more news coming out of the Bahamas heading into the summer months.

PAX caught up with Paul Strachan, Bahamas Tourist Office Canada’s senior director, for further updates from the destination. In February, the Bahamas Tourist Office welcomed special guests Joy Jibrilu, director – general for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Dionisio J. D’Aguilar, Bahamas' Minister of Tourism & Aviation for an update on the destination and its many resort offerings.

The consensus? This will be a hot year for the Bahamas following a dip in Canadian arrivals in 2017.

READ MORE: Bahamas heats up in 2018

Yasmin Johnson, marketing representative - Canada, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

New appointment

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has appointed Yasmin Johnson to the position of marketing representative, Canada.

Johnson will join the team at The Bahamas Tourist Office in Toronto, with responsibility of generating sales and business development opportunities within the retail trade and select niche segments.

Johnson hails from Eleuthera, and has over 10 years of hospitality and tourism experience at various levels. She most recently held the position of Assistant General Manager at The French Leave Resort in Eleuthera, and played an integral role in the property’s conversion to a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel. She is an alumni of the University of Toronto and has travelled extensively throughout Europe, briefly living in Southeast Asia.

"I'm looking forward to assisting and providing travel agents with the knowledge and tools to better enable them to sell The Islands Of The Bahamas. I'm passionate about promoting my country; especially our hidden gems which are our Out Islands" said Yasmin.

Johnson can be reached at yjohnson@bahamas.com.

Aerial shot of Exuma

While most Canadians head south in the fall and winter months, Strachan reminded agents that Bahamas is still accessible in the summer with weekly non-stop flights, including a Sunwing flight to Grand Bahama and service to Exuma – home of the world-famous swimming pigs – through Air Canada Vacations.

And for Canadians taking a summer vacation in Bahamas, there’s lots happening this year:

Regatta Time in The Abacos: The 43rd Regatta Time in The Abacos (RTIA) is fast approaching and excitement is steadily building for the week-long event held from June 24 – July 3, 2018. The event, which begins in South Abaco and ends in North Abaco, attracts up to 1,400 people every year who come to experience different cays in The Abacos through a week of boat races, parties and island hopping. Visit www.regattatimeinabaco.comfor more information.

Vertical Blue Freediving Competition: From July 16-26, more than 50 professional divers representing 21 countries will gather on Long Island for a nine-day diving competition at the world’s deepest blue hole, Dean’s Blue Hole. The winners of the competition will take home the titles for the world's deepest man and woman free diver. For more information on the competition, click here.

Bahamas Ride

The Bahamas’ first-ever ride-hailing mobile app, Bahamas Ride, puts passengers in direct contact with licensed and vetted taxi drivers, providing on-demand, safe and reliable transportation in Nassau.

The app features automatic payment with debit or credit card, GPS tracking, a driver rating system and a choice of three of types of vehicles: standard for up to four riders, large for up to six riders and extra-large for 10 or more riders. Bahamas Ride has plans to expand beyond the capital with service in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco and The Exumas.

For more details, visit www.bahamasride.com.

Special offers

A number of special offers - which can be booked through travel agents - are currently available in the Bahamas. Click here for more.