The Bahamas saw a slight uptick of 1.1 percent overall in visitor arrivals by air and sea by April 2014, in comparison to the same period in 2013, the latest statistical data has shown, with arrivals moving up to 2.32 million from 2.29 million for the same period.
In the key high-value stopover segment, visitor arrivals, overall, were up 3.1 percent, to 476, 367, in the period.
Average daily room rates also rose to their highest level in at least the past seven years, reaching $227.72. While positive at face value, this higher rate, up from $197.68 in 2007, also indicates higher costs for stopover visitors.
A key tourism official has described the minor rise in visitor arrivals as "healthy", given other mitigating factors.
Broken down by first port of entry, official statistics reveal that Grand Bahama saw a 33.2 percent rise in air arrivals during the first four months; Bimini saw a 13.8 percent rise; Andros experienced a 7.1 percent rise; Exuma experienced a 14 percent rise; Long Island saw a 20 percent rise and San Salvador experienced a 21 percent increase.
Those destinations which saw a decline include the Berry Islands, down 7.5 percent; Cat Island, down 10 percent, and Eleuthera, which took a 1.7 percent hit.
The Family Islands overall recorded a four percent hike in air arrivals during the period leading up to the end of April 2014.
However, Grand Bahama's growth in air arrivals was offset by a 30.7 percent fall in its sea arrivals, for a net loss of -22.9 percent.
In Nassau/Paradise Island, a 1.2 percent rise in sea arrivals offset a zero percent growth rate in the air segment, for a 0.9 percent overall arrival increase for the first four months.
David Johnson, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Tourism Development Corporation and former director general of tourism, said the results are positive, all things considered.
"One must take into account that you've lost inventory - you've basically lost an entire hotel in the former Wyndham (which was announced to have closed in May 2014).
This was probably six percent of the inventory in Nassau and what's there is in the middle of a construction site, so under those circumstances we have nothing to feel uncomfortable or ashamed about. I think the marketplace would generally deal you a more severe decline, so being able to hold our own or have any increase or achieve the same level of revenue and occupancy is a victory under those circumstances."
The figures were provided by the Ministry of Tourism's Research and Statistics Department and are the latest available. They are based on manual counts of immigration cards and include all foreign visitor arrivals, excluding returning residents and ship crew.
Looking ahead, Johnson said that the industry has also seen some "strengthening since April".
"I think May was strong, and Paradise Island is improving each month. My guess is that it's an improving trend that we can anticipate (for the rest of 2014). Nothing great, but slightly improving."
He added that some adjustments will need to be made to projections based on the delay in full opening announced by Baha Mar last week.
"Obviously we have to recalibrate with regards to December given what we've learned from Baha Mar. We were counting on a significant boost in December; now that'll be less significant. But come the winter next year that will be significantly stronger because all of the rooms will be there and they'll be full."
The overall increase comes after The Bahamas experienced overall growth in tourist arrivals of 3.54 percent for 2013 overall, with one percent growth in stopover visitors and the remainder made up of sea and cruise arrivals.
According to the BHTA's 2013 Industry Performance and 2014 Outlook Survey, 47 percent of responding Bahamas hotels reported a net loss in 2013, up from 33 percent in 2012.
Again demonstrating the country's continued heavy reliance on the U.S. as its major source market, in 2013, new data also shows that 78 percent of stopover visitors came from the U.S., nine percent from Canada and six percent from Europe. One percent came from the Caribbean, two percent from Latin America and three percent from the rest of the world.
Following an overall decline of two percent in stopover arrivals in 2013, the decline in Latin American arrivals came to a halt in 2014. Stopover arrivals to The Bahamas from Latin America grew by six percent between January and February, primarily due to growth in stopover business from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
European arrivals were up in 2013 by two percent in January. The growth came primarily from Spain and France. Meanwhile, by February 2014 stopover arrivals were up again by seven percent, primarily driven by growth from France, the U.K. and Germany.
Surveys of consumer sentiment have revealed that 94 percent of stopover visitors said they were likely to recommend the destination to friends and family, including 94 percent of those visiting Nassau /Paradise Island, 92 percent of those who went to Grand Bahama, and 97 percent who visited the Out Islands.
Customer satisfaction surveys revealed that approximately nine out of 10 visitors (89 percent) to The Bahamas in 2013 said they were likely to return, including 88 percent of those visiting Nassau/Paradise Island, 87 percent visiting Grand Bahama and 91 percent who went to the Out Islands.
Two in every three visitors to the Out Islands had been before, while more than half of those who came to Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama had.
Stopovers were influenced to visit The Bahamas because of the beaches (64 percent), climate (55 percent) and rest and relaxation (40 percent). For Grand Bahama, good package deals and the perception that they would receive the best value for money were also major influences. For the Out Islands sports, friendly people and safety of the islands were also major influences. Some also mentioned the desire to go to a casino or on an island tour.

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