If any country knows how to host a down home party in the backyard, it’s The Bahamas.

And that’s exactly what the Ministry of Tourism plans to do when it hits ‘CTO Caribbean Week’ in New York next month.

The down home party will give participants a true Bahamian experience and is one of several events the Ministry of Tourism has organized as it seeks to amplify destination experiences and drive destination desire.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said The Bahamas is in the business of tourism and must continue to find creative ways to boost visitor arrivals.

“The hardworking staff at the Ministry of Tourism has created a schedule of exciting events to give voice to our national story,” he said.

“The food, art, culture, music and people will be showcased in such a meaningful way that we will experience a spike in travel from summer 2016 to winter 2017.”

Caribbean Week in New York is the largest regional tourism activity and typically attracts thousands of participants.

“It showcases the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique holiday experiences of the Caribbean and combines business sessions and consumer-oriented events with food fashion, entertainment, sales and networking opportunities,” according to Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which organizes the event yearly.

Caribbean Week will be held from May 31 to June 5.

The week of activities will culminate with a Caribbean Rocks concert.

This year Caribbean Rocks is a partnership between The Bahamas, TEMPO and CTO. As a platinum sponsor, the Islands of The Bahamas will feature prominently during the show.

There will be live performances from top Caribbean artists as well as an award ceremony during the concert. Organizers are hoping to develop CARIBBEAN ROCKS into a premier event for Caribbean artists, comparable to the MTV Video Music Awards and BET Honors and Awards Show.

Bahamian artists DMac, FanShawn, and Stileet backed by the Spank Band will perform at the concert.

Wilchcombe said he is proud of the strides that Bahamian artists have made in the last several years.

“The concert will give Bahamian and other Caribbean artists the opportunity to take their music to an international stage, in the world’s most dynamic city,” he said.

Turning to the country’s participation in Caribbean Week generally, Wilchcombe added that The Bahamas will make its presence felt in a major way.

“We signed on as a platinum sponsor because we want the Islands of The Bahamas to be in the forefront,” Wilchcombe said.

“We want people to know that The Bahamas is more than just Nassau and Paradise Island. We want people to experience the beauty that all of the islands have to offer. Caribbean week offers a great platform to showcase our uniqueness.”

The Ministry of Tourism will also host a Bahamas Date Night and will participate in the CTO’s Chef Program.

Prime Minister Perry Christie is also scheduled to travel to New York for the event.