International arrivals to the Bahamas are set to reach 1.6 million in 2022, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3% between 2019 and 2022, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Amber Barnes, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian, the Bahamas has recovered quickly. In 2019, new flights were added (mostly to the US), which has helped to cement the US’ position as the dominant source market thanks to improved accessibility. This increased air connectivity has set up the Bahamas for a tourism boom.”

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Destination Market Insight: Caribbean’, reveals that air and sea will continue to be the dominant modes of transport for arrivals to the Bahamas, with a CAGR of 2.2% for air and 2.6% for sea between 2019 and 2022.

IMAGE Available: International arrivals to the Bahamas by mode of transport, 2018-2022

Barnes continues: “Although air is the dominant mode of transport, the cruise industry continues to supply tourists in huge numbers. Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises are adding more routes to the Bahamas, which will further increase sea arrivals. 

“More US restrictions banned cruise ships to Cuba in 2019. This leaves great potential for the Bahamas to increase cruise tourism from the US, especially with new cruise routes commencing. This will further contribute to the forecast tourism numbers.”

Due to its close proximity, the US is the Bahamas’ major source market, accounting for 84% of arrivals in 2019, followed by Canada, which accounted for 9%. It is therefore clear to see that the US is crucial to the Bahamas’ fortunes.

In GlobalData’s Q3 2019 global consumer survey, 58% of respondents highlighted they take sun and beach holidays while 15% stated they take cruise holidays. However, 21% of North Americans stated they go on cruise holidays, emphasizing the pull of the cruise industry within the US source market.

Barnes concludes: “With continued increasing air connectivity and expansion of the cruise industry to increase international arrivals, tourism authorities should now focus on increasing long-haul routes such as Europe and Asia to drive the growth of various source markets to reduce reliance on the US.”