Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said yesterday that the government is reviewing contracts related to the travel health visa.

“As it relates to our contracts, we are reviewing the entirety of the arrangement,” Cooper said outside Cabinet.

“I don’t wish to comment further on that at this time but suffice to say, we’re looking at it. Our focus really is restoring tourism, getting more tourists to come to our shores.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work internally. We’re optimistic about the next few months, so that’s our primary focus at the moment.”

He noted that the government has streamlined the travel health visa process for inter-island travel.

Travel health visas are no longer required for domestic travel in the country.

As of October 1, Bahamians and residents of The Bahamas, whether vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, will no longer have to pay travel health visa fees to travel internationally.

Prior to the changes, the travel health visa for domestic travel was free for vaccinated individuals and $25 for unvaccinated individuals. The visa for international travel was free for fully-vaccinated individuals and $40 for those who are unvaccinated.

5-Day Uncertainty Track last updated Wed, 29 Sep 2021 08:40:34 GMT



Wind Speed Probabilities last updated Wed, 29 Sep 2021 08:40:34 GMT

Issued at 0900 UTC WED SEP 29 2021

000
WTNT23 KNHC 290836
TCMAT3

HURRICANE SAM FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 27
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL

AL182021
0900 UTC WED SEP 29 2021

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

HURRICANE CENTER LOCATED NEAR 18.9N 56.2W AT 29/0900Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 15 NM

PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR 310 DEGREES AT

8 KT

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 950 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 115 KT WITH GUSTS TO 140 KT.
64 KT....... 35NE 30SE 25SW 30NW.
50 KT....... 60NE 50SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT.......110NE 100SE 80SW 90NW.
12 FT SEAS..180NE 105SE 150SW 180NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.

REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 18.9N 56.2W AT 29/0900Z
AT 29/0600Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 18.6N 55.9W

FORECAST VALID 29/1800Z 19.7N 57.3W
MAX WIND 120 KT...GUSTS 145 KT.
64 KT... 35NE 30SE 25SW 30NW.
50 KT... 60NE 50SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT...110NE 110SE 90SW 100NW.

FORECAST VALID 30/0600Z 21.0N 58.9W
MAX WIND 120 KT...GUSTS 145 KT.
64 KT... 35NE 30SE 25SW 30NW.
50 KT... 60NE 50SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT...110NE 110SE 90SW 100NW.

FORECAST VALID 30/1800Z 22.8N 60.4W
MAX WIND 120 KT...GUSTS 145 KT.
64 KT... 40NE 40SE 30SW 40NW.
50 KT... 60NE 60SE 50SW 50NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 90SW 100NW.

FORECAST VALID 01/0600Z 25.2N 61.5W
MAX WIND 115 KT...GUSTS 140 KT.
64 KT... 50NE 40SE 30SW 40NW.
50 KT... 70NE 70SE 50SW 60NW.
34 KT...130NE 130SE 90SW 100NW.

FORECAST VALID 01/1800Z 27.9N 62.0W
MAX WIND 115 KT...GUSTS 140 KT.
50 KT... 70NE 70SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT...140NE 140SE 100SW 110NW.

FORECAST VALID 02/0600Z 30.8N 61.5W
MAX WIND 110 KT...GUSTS 135 KT.
50 KT... 70NE 70SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT...150NE 150SE 110SW 120NW.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 150 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 175 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 15 KT EACH DAY

OUTLOOK VALID 03/0600Z 35.8N 57.5W
MAX WIND 95 KT...GUSTS 115 KT.

OUTLOOK VALID 04/0600Z 40.8N 52.0W
MAX WIND 80 KT...GUSTS 100 KT.

REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 18.9N 56.2W

NEXT ADVISORY AT 29/1500Z

$$
FORECASTER BROWN

...SAM SLOWLY STRENGTHENING WITH 140-MPH WINDS...
As of 11:00 PM AST Tue Sep 28
the center of Sam was located near 18.4, -55.6
with movement NW at 9 mph.
The minimum central pressure was 944 mb
with maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph.