The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is reporting a historic new milestone for the nation’s tourism industry, welcoming an unprecedented 12.5 million visitors, the highest total ever recorded and marking back-to-back record years.
Visitor arrivals in 2025 grew 11.4% year-over-year, surpassing 2024’s record and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 70% – growth that underscores the strength and resilience of demand across global markets.
Canada continues to emerge as one of The Bahamas’ fastest-growing stopover markets, with year-round arrivals now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong demand from Ontario and Quebec and expanding airline service.
“Reaching 12.5 million visitors is a defining achievement for The Bahamas and a clear signal of confidence in our destination, our leadership, and our tourism strategy,” stated Bahamas deputy prime minister and tourism minister I. Chester Cooper. “Tourism continues to be a powerful engine of economic growth, delivering jobs, investment, and opportunity for Bahamians across our islands. While we are proud of this performance, our focus remains on sustaining growth responsibly and ensuring that the benefits of tourism continue to strengthen communities throughout the country.”
Cruise tourism remained the primary driver of growth, accounting for 86.5% of total arrivals. Sea arrivals exceeded 10.6 million visitors, representing a 14% increase year-over-year and nearly double 2019 levels. Major ports recorded record throughput, with continued gains across Nassau/Paradise Island and the Out Islands, supported by new cruise infrastructure and enhanced partnerships with leading cruise lines.
Out Islands
Several islands delivered standout performances, underscoring the breadth of tourism growth across the archipelago. Abaco recorded its highest total visitor arrivals on record, welcoming nearly 520,000 visitors in 2025. This milestone was driven by record-breaking sea arrivals and reflects sustained demand for the island’s distinctive Out Island experiences, reinforcing Abaco’s continued recovery and long-term tourism potential.
Grand Bahama’s tourism resurgence in 2025 was driven decisively by expanded and sustained airlift, marking a major inflection point for the island’s economy. For the first time in more than 22 years, total arrivals surpassed one million, reaching approximately 1.1 million through December.
Air arrivals increased 20% year-over-year compared to 2024 and exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 30%, reflecting renewed airline confidence and a strengthening stopover market. This airlift-driven growth has directly benefited hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, and on-island service providers, reinforcing Grand Bahama’s status as one of the fastest-growing and most compelling tourism rebound stories in The Bahamas and the wider region.
Beyond the major gateways, tourism growth continued to diversify across the Family Islands. Eleuthera recorded nearly 30% growth, while Bimini and the Berry Islands continued to expand their roles as cruise destinations. Nearly 30% of stopover visitors traveled to the Out Islands, strengthening community-based tourism and ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared more broadly across The Bahamas.
Air arrivals remained resilient amid global aviation constraints and weather-related disruptions. Nearly 1.7 million foreign air visitors traveled to The Bahamas, with late-year momentum reflected in year-over-year growth in December.
Director General of Tourism Latia Duncombe highlighted the strategic implications of the record performance: “Welcoming 12.5 million visitors speaks to the strength of Brand Bahamas and the clarity of our market positioning. Demand is being driven by our island offerings, strong performance across multiple travel segments, and a destination that consistently meets the expectations of today’s global traveller. This momentum reflects how effectively The Bahamas is engaging international markets while building long-term competitiveness for the future.”
Stopover tourism continued to demonstrate quality demand, with over 1.8 million stopover visitors recorded during the year. Approximately two-thirds stayed in Nassau/Paradise Island, while nearly 30% traveled to the Out Islands, supporting local businesses and community-based tourism experiences across the archipelago.
As The Bahamas marks this extraordinary achievement, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation remains focused on the future—advancing initiatives that support sustainable tourism development, enhance infrastructure, diversify the visitor economy, and ensure that continued growth translates into lasting opportunity for Bahamians.
With consecutive record-breaking years and global momentum firmly established, The Bahamas enters its next chapter of tourism leadership with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
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