Stop over visitors – those who spend 20 per cent more than cruise passengers – have increased by 15.7 per cent over the first  six months of this year.

According to Tourism Minister, Dionisio D’Aguilar, on the domestic side of things, New Providence, Eleuthera and Abaco are all doing well.

“Exuma is about the same, but I think they’re just maxed out,” he said. 

“They need more rooms, they need more hotel infrastructure to grow, and obviously we’re going to put the new airport down on that island.

“San Salvador is up, the only island that isn’t up and we know why, is Grand Bahama.”

While the islands are experiencing if not double digits, high single digit increases year over year, admittedly, the Minister said there are challenges.

“If you speak to the family islanders, especially in the northern Bahamas, they’re doing very very well. 

“As you get further down south in the chain, the numbers are not doing very well primarily because of lift,” he added.

“We got to solve that lift problem, getting people there and addressing their aviation concerns.

“If you speak to the marinas, gang busters, never had a better year.

“So there are a lot of mariners coming to The Bahamas and experiencing our family islands that way,” said Mr. D’Aguilar.

The minister said he’s very excited, very encouraged and very optimistic.