Tourism Director General, Latia Duncombe appeared at a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday where she addressed last year’s shortfall in air arrivals.
Air arrivals to The Bahamas decreased to 1.69 million people in 2025 though the overall number of visitors was a record 12.5 million. Duncombe explained to reporters that tourism officials are working to address the shortfalls in 2026.
She said, “our brand continues to resonate across key source markets and our industry partners remained aligned and engaged. We are celebrating our performance but we’re not resting on it. Our approach is measured. It is deliberate, deliberate and grounded in execution.”
According to the director general most of the country’s visitors originate from the United State at 84%. However, the number of stopover visitors from Canada is growing with approximately 45 flights per week. Duncombe believes the Canadian market is giving The Bahamas greater access to other markets like Europe.
She said, “from our global sales teams, to our in country officers, to our partners on the ground across our sixteen islands our collective focus is clear – to sustain momentum, strengthen our competitive position and ensure that tourism delivers meaningful results for the Bahamian people.”
