T&T: Bahamas

[Milt Baker]

Although I've cruised the Bahamas almost every year for the past 25 years, I've been away
and have no first-hand information on how the economy has affected the Bahamas. Over the past 
couple of weeks, however, I've spoken have with several people who either live or have 
interests in the Bahamas, mainly Abaco.  Here's their take:

--Nassau and Freeport, catering to mass tourism, have been hit hardest.  If you don't count 
cruise ship passengers who spend little money in the Bahamas, the number of tourists visiting 
Nassau and Freeport is down about 50% from the previous year.  An acquaintance who owns one of 
the high-end restaurants at the Atlantis resort told me that his business of off by more than 
50% and that bookings at the hotels there are down about the same amount.  

--Abaco, catering to more sophisticated travelers, to those who own second homes there, and to 
the yachting community, has also felt the impact but not as severely.  Tourism is reported to be 
down about 30-35% in Abaco.  Marina fees have either gone down or remained the same, with no 
increases anywhere.  The new marina at Bakers Bay on Guana Cay was to have been a fancy, 
exclusive megayachts-only marina, yet last weekend it had only three yachts, none of them 
megayachts.  The price at the marina there is reported to $1.00/foot.  There's lots of space at 
the usual marinas all around Abaco, and Green Turtle Club is reportedly offering big incentives 
to get cruisers in.  Charter bookings at The Moorings is way down, according to someone who 
drives by several times a week and does a quick census of the boats there.

--I don't have any reports on the number of boats at George Town in the Exumas.  The "new" marina
at Emerald Bay has reportedly gone belly-up.

I have felt for a long time that the $300 fee required to clear in a 40-plus foot boat was a bad 
idea that kept many yachtsmen from visiting the Bahamas.  Combined with a bad economy, it seems 
to be even worse.  I've heard lots of people say they just won't go there if they have to pay that 
kind of money for the privilege.

That said, Judy and I will be headed for Abaco for a few weeks in May and are looking forward to 
being back in the islands.  I'm guessing we won't have any trouble finding a berth!

--Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Fort Lauderdale



Duane wrote:

I'm curious how the economy has affected the Bahamas if any. Maybe someone there could comment on numbers of boats compared to previous trips? Are the popular restaurants and bars all open? Getting ready for my spring trip and have not seen much news from there as in previous years.