Managers of the 'People-to-People' Programme – an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation – recently hosted media from the United Kingdom in a week-long experience with community residents and local journalists.

During their visit, the group travelled to Eleuthera, from October 23–26 and Nassau, October 26–29, 2023. While in The Bahamas, their focus centered on family life experiences, including Bahamian culture, entertainment, interactions with residents and sampling popular cuisine.

Their tour culminated with a “Cocktails 'n' Conversations” reception hosted by People-to-People Ambassador, Henry Lightbourne and his wife Pauline on Saturday, October 28. The programme’s General Manager Bernadette Bastian accompanied the journalists; other tourism representatives, Christal Albury and Karen Wring were also present.

The visiting journalists were: influential travel writer and editor of Prima Magazine, Jane Anderson; Sophie Vokes-Dudgen, digital editor of Hello Magazine, and Katie Bowman who writes for The Times.

They also interacted with Lindsay Thompson and Betty Vedrine, Senior Information Officers, Bahamas Information Services; and Jimenita Swain, reporter, the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS).

The People-to-People Programme is designed to match visitors with People-To-People ambassadors according to occupation, interests, religious beliefs, age, hobbies -- a community involvement venture that brings visitors and Bahamian residents together on a one-to-one basis. This on-shore promotional program was started by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in Nassau, New Providence, in 1975. 

The major objectives of the programme are:   

1) To foster communication and exchange of ideas of people from foreign lands with a view of improving individual understanding of our country and its culture; and,

2) To advance the cause of international friendship and engender a spirit of amiableness.