The Tribune

THE Ministry of Tourism has brought Latin America to the Bahamas through a recent familiarisation trip for journalists.

Media personalities from Colombia, Peru and Panama visited Nassau and Paradise Island to receive a taste of Bahamian culture, as this nation seeks to open up new visitor markets in the southern hemisphere.

Giovanni Grant, the Ministry's general manager of multi-destinations, said: "Latin America is hugely important to the Bahamas because when Latin Americans come they stay longer; they spend a lot more and they go into the local community. So they come downtown, they shop for luxury goods and food is huge for the Latin Americans."

While in Nassau, the journalists visited the forts, the Queen's Staircase, Educulture, Graycliff, restaurants and other cultural experiences.

"Copa Airlines has four flights per week - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Panama City non-stop to Nassau," said Mr Grant. "What that does is connect all of Latin America, which is their hub, and they fly to Nassau.

"The population of Brazil and Mexico exceeds the population of the United States, so this is a huge market that we have had a relationship with and Copa Airlines is that partner to do it."

The Ministry of Tourism is also marketing with Copa Airlines in Argentina, Brazil and Panama. "We are doing online, newspapers, magazines and cinema. We are going back into the market with new vigour to let everyone in Latin America know we are here, and we are here to stay," added Mr Grant. "We want the journalists to take home the message that the Bahamas is open for business. We have new products to offer, new experiences. The Bahamas is still a sexy destination. Everyone wants to come to us and it's an exciting time to come to the destination."

The Ministry of Tourism said language barriers are not an issue, as there are tour operators to help Latin Americans navigate the Bahamas.

Clint Sawyer, a tour operator of Bahamas Tours en Español, whose clients are 80 per cent Latin American, said: "For me, it's important to show them the true Bahamian experience.

"I want them to see Bahamian culture, to see how the Bahamian people are. I want them to come again and again and tell others to come as well."

Dani Dini, an Argentinian social media influencer, said of her visit: "This is an amazing place. I'm amazed at this conch salad and conch fritters and the drinks.

"It is like a very vibrant and funny place. You can feel the energy and you just lounge in Nassau. I don't want to leave."

She has a blog with 30,000 followers, and added: "It's very easy to come here, and it is definitely worth coming here because of the climate and the people, landscapes and amazing beaches. We don't have anything like it in South America.

"I'm trying to communicate in real time the experience that we are having. The food that we are eating, what we are experiencing -- the city, the island and all they can do here."