In a bid to highlight the economic contribution of the marina industry to The Bahamas, an economic impact study sent to Guardian Business yesterday revealed that marina visitors and accommodation boaters account for about four percent of total stopover visitors to the country.
The study shows that marina visitors are only second to offshore boaters when it comes to the percentage of visitors staying 30 days or more. The figures indicate that 16 percent of offshore boaters stay 30 days or longer and nine percent of marina boaters stay for that same period.
The information also points out that 72 percent of marina boaters are repeat visitors, in comparison to 33 percent of hotel visitors.
The report also includes information from a 2009 Ministry of Tourism survey on marina visitor expenditure.
According to that data, marina boaters spent $46.3 million in The Bahamas that year and the pending average per visitor per night was $150.
"The amount spent by marina boaters was higher than those staying in rented homes or apartments ($120) and in timeshares ($80)," the study states.
"Marina boaters spent $25 on activities, $10 on other purchases and $60 on popular purchases, which was also more than any other visitor type."
The survey also notes that marina hotel visitors spent about $225 per visitor per night.
"They travel in parties of three and made nine previous visits on average," the study adds.
The study also provided a list of expenditures per marina visitor: motor fuels and oil, groceries, other marina services, boat repairs, fishing, boat supplies, jewelry, scuba/snorkeling, golfing and bottled alcoholic beverages.

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