Tourism data shows just under 4,000 visitors in June

The country received just under 4,000 foreign visitors by air and sea during the month of June, when the first phase of the Ministry of Tourism’s reopening plan came into effect, according to data from the ministry.

Compared to June 2019 – when the country had a total of 641,410 foreign arrivals by air and sea – it represents a 99.4 percentage decrease.

There were 1,705 air arrivals in June, compared to the 168,392 a year earlier.

Boaters, yachters and private pilots were the first visitors allowed to enter The Bahamas during the first phase of the Ministry of Tourism’s reopening plan, which began on June 15.

Commercial airlines were also allowed to bring in Bahamians, permanent residents and homeowners, along with their family members at that time.

For the first half of the year ending June 30, The Bahamas had a total of 1.705 million foreign visitors, down 56.1 percent compared to the 3.88 million visitors the country welcomed up to the halfway point last year.

In January this year the country welcomed 687,200 visitors by air and sea; in February there were 711,699 total visitors; in March as the country began emergency lockdown measures there were 302,118 visitors; followed by a mere 43 foreign visitors in April and 20 in May.

Specifically regarding air arrivals, there were 125,308 foreign visitor arrivals in January; in February there were 146,486 visitors arriving by air; in March there were 75,656; and there were 11 in April and 20 in May.

Data collected between July 1 and July 15 from the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) showed that Lynden Pindling International Airport saw approximately 5,600 US and international arrivals and approximately 4,300 US and international departures.

While officials had anticipated growing numbers for the month of August, the recently implemented 14-day quarantine is expected to significantly impact travel to the country.

And with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extending its no sail order to October 1, tourism officials have said it is unlikely that The Bahamas will welcome cruise visitors until the latter portion of the fourth quarter.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/07/29/tourism-data-shows-just-under-4000-visitors-in-june/