Canadian visitor arrivals to The Bahamas are reaching record levels, according to Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Latia Duncombe, who said this destination continues to build on strong momentum from one of its fastest-growing source markets.
Speaking to travel trade publication OpenJaw last week while on a Canada Mission, Duncombe said the focus is now on maintaining strong air connectivity and deepening relationships with travel advisors and the Canadian travel industry.
“We’ve been in this market for a while, and we’re seeing record breaking numbers. They’re growing,” Duncombe said.
“The key thing for us is to make sure connectivity remains strong, that we’re present in market, that we stay connected to the trade, the travel trade, the travel advisors, and also the media.”
The strong performance follows a surge in Canadian travel to The Bahamas that began last year as more Canadians opted for Caribbean destinations amid trade tensions between Canada and the United States stemming from President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Tourism officials have since continued marketing aggressively in Canada while working with airline partners to strengthen airlift.
Duncombe said Canadian visitors are particularly attracted to authentic experiences that allow them to immerse themselves in Bahamian culture.
“Canadians like to become immersed in the destination. They want to know about our culture, to understand who we are and enjoy what we have to offer,” she said.
She noted that boating, fishing, diving, snorkeling and hiking remain among the activities most popular with Canadian visitors.
Duncombe also highlighted The Bahamas’ People-to-People program, which allows visitors to spend time with local residents through activities such as shopping, attending church services, participating in community events or visiting a traditional fish fry.
The Ministry of Tourism has increasingly promoted cultural and nature-based experiences as part of its strategy to encourage longer stays and higher visitor spending while differentiating The Bahamas from competing Caribbean destinations.
Canada has become an increasingly important stopover market for The Bahamas, helping diversify the country’s tourism base beyond its dominant US visitor market.