The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Nassau led all Caribbean  destinations in private jet charter arrivals during the 2013 winter peak, it was revealed yesterday, joining with Abaco and north Eleuthera to generate $387.6 million in economic benefits.

Tourism officials said the findings disclosed by a prominent private jet lifestyle magazine were “certainly welcomed”, with the three Bahamian destinations making the Caribbean’s ‘top 10’ for private jet charter arrivals.

Elite Traveler Magazine said Nassau was the top destination in the Caribbean for private jet charter flights during 2013’s peak winter season, receiving some 4,034 arrivals that generated $278.346 million in economic benefits.

Abaco was ranked fifth on the list, where some 930 private jet charter arrivals produced $64.17 million in economic benefits. North Eleuthera came in as the eighth most popular destination in the Caribbean, its 654 arrivals generating $45.126 million in economic benefits

Tyrone Sawyer, the Ministry of Tourim’s senior director of airlift development, said that while his portfolio focused mainly on commercial airlines offering scheduled service, the report on the private jet charter business was a boost.

“We certainly welcome it,” he said. “It sort of validates our strategy of targeting high income private flyers who, for the most part, tend to travel not only to Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama, but also to many of the other Family Island destinations that we have and thereby spread the visitor spending throughout our entire country, rather than just in one destination, which is the main objective. This certainly helps to achieve that strategic objective for the country.”

According to Elite Traveler Magazine there, were 12,566 private jet charter flights to the 10 busiest Caribbean airports alone between November 2013 to April 2014.  

Private jets are estimated to bring an average of $69,000 in spend to the destinations they visit, excluding fuel and landing fees.

An Odessey Aviation executive told Tribune Business: “I’m really not sure about the statistics but the private aviation business is very important to this country. There are very wealthy people who don’t just have second homes, they have multiple homes and they spend a lot of money.

“Obviously we want them to spend money. It’s an ideal market for us to aim at the higher end, than for us to just go after the cruise ships. I think we need to aim more at the higher market.”