“We anticipate good numbers”: The Bahamas bets on Canada with expanded airlift

“Canadians may have visited one of the 16 islands in the Bahamas, but it’s unlikely they’ve seen all of them,” said The Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, from Hotel X in Toronto Tuesday night (June 24)

This is the strategy the Caribbean nation is banking on for 2025, using Bahamas-born rock legend Lenny Kravitz as their global ambassador, and the slogan, “It’s not one island. It’s a lifetime of them.”

While Canadians only make up 10 per cent of visitors to the Bahamas (over 122,000 visited in 2024), there’s a long-standing bond – the Bahamian tourism office opened in Canada in 1968.

Arrivals have been strong in 2025, and the islands have always been a popular destination for snowbirds and short-term travellers, especially thanks to the quick three-hour flight.

“In 2024, our arrivals were 50 per cent ahead of 2023, and we know that 40 per cent of our guests return, so we anticipate good numbers,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

While most visitors are familiar with Paradise Island and Nassau the office is pushing for the discovery of Exuma, Eleuthera, Andros and others for adventure fishing, ecotourism, outdoor exploration and relaxation. 

All about the lift

There’s been new and expanded airlift added to the Bahamas – a 50 per cent year over year increase, in fact.

Air Canada, for one, is now offering flights from Halifax and Ottawa (including a path to Exuma), with Sunwing offering flights from Montreal and Ottawa as well.

Inter-island connectivity has been getting better with new smaller commuter airlines popping up, but visitors can also take ferries from island to island as well. 

Let a local be your guide

There are also many more places to stay, in off-the-beaten-path locations across the islands thanks to online booking apps.

“We’ve had a great expansion in short-term vacation rentals be it through AirBnb, Vrbo, or any of the other international booking engines connecting with locals offering rental opportunities on a short-term basis in small communities across the islands,” said Latia Duncombe, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation.

“Typically, you would have gone to a big hotel in Nassau, or in Exuma, you would have stayed in Georgetown, but now you can go to the far-flung cays or settlements of the islands to experience the community. It’s authentic. You can walk around freely, talk to people, visit to a mom-and-pop shops and small restaurants.”

Travellers looking for something authentic can also try out the Bahamas People to People Bahamas People to People program..

Now in its 50th year, the program pairs guests with local volunteer ambassadors who open their hearts and homes to share the love of their islands.

“Whatever we do as Bahamian that day is what a visitor gets to do, whether it’s the beach, going to a fish fry or a festival,” said Mrs. Duncombe.

Guests at the event last night got a small taste of that hospitality with incredible cocktail and mocktail preparations from Marv “Mr. Mixologist” Cunningham, the official mixology ambassador for Bahamas tourism.

There were delicious appetizers and floor-shaking Junkanoo performances with dancers adorned with feathered sequin suits combined with the big band jazz energy of trumpets, tubas, drums and trombones – much like you might experience at one of the 30 different festivals that happen year-round on the islands.

Safety first

Many visitors will return from the Bahamas with a story of how safe and welcomed they felt.

But the Bahamas does receive travel advisories from the Government of Canada, with the most caution needed in city centers, especially around casinos.

“We simply tell people to exercise the usual precautions when you travel,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.  “We have beaches on some of our islands where you will see no one.  But we have 11 million tourists coming to our shores. And many of them coming to the national part. It has a city, cosmopolitan energy. We have casinos, so ensure that you are taking the usual safety precautions.”

“We understand travel advisories, and that countries feel the need to say this and that, but the reality is that Canadians know the Bahamian market, they know our heart and millions of them have enjoyed our hospitality.”

Airlift options

Options for airlift through 2025 to some of The Bahamas’ most desirable destinations include:

Freeport, Grand Bahama (FPO)

● Montreal (YUL) — Sunwing: nonstop Saturday flights (1 per week) will continue to operate year-round.

● Toronto (YYZ) — Sunwing: nonstop Saturday flights (1 per week) will continue to operate through the Summer, Fall, and Winter of 2025.

George Town, Exuma (GGT)

● Toronto (YYZ) — Air Canada: nonstop Sunday flights (1 per week). Seasonal winter service will end on April 27 and resume in the Fall of 2025.

San Salvador (ZSA)

● Montreal (YUL) — Club Med: nonstop Tuesday charter flights (1 per week), seasonal service will end on July 29 & will resume in October 2025.

Nassau, New Providence (NAS)

● Calgary — WestJet: nonstop Sunday flights (1 per week), seasonal Winter service will end on April 26 & will resume in Winter 2025.

● Montreal (YUL) — Air Canada: nonstop flights (3 per week), seasonal Winter service will end on April 26 & will resume in October 2025.

● Toronto (YYZ) — Air Canada: nonstop flights (multiple times per week) will continue to operate year-round.

● Toronto (YYZ) — WestJet: nonstop flights (multiple times per week) will continue to operate year-round.

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