The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Nassau Cruise Port yesterday affirmed it is targeting a near-25 percent increase in passengers to 5.6m for 2024 after receiving close to 4.5m last year.

The Prince George Wharf operator, in a statement, hailed 2023 as a “record-breaking year” after welcoming 4.491m passengers on a collective 1,201 vessels. It added that this represented a 14 percent increase over previous pre-COVID passenger record from 2019, and it now has ambitions to grow this number by 1.1m in 2024.

Mike Maura, Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive, said: “A huge thank you to the cruise industry and its passengers, the travel agents championing The Bahamas, our government partners, the Nassau Cruise Port businesses, the entire community here in New Providence and, of course, our incredible team at Nassau Cruise Port.

“Each of you make a difference every day, owning your share of this success. And remember, the newly-revitalised Nassau waterfront offers unique finds, fantastic entertainment and delicious food and drinks, with even more on the horizon for 2024.”

Nassau Cruise Port added that it shattered Prince George Wharf’s one-day passenger record in March by welcoming 28,554 visitors. It then broke this again on December 27 by attracting 29,316 passengers. This momentum helped it set a new full-year record and beat the original target of 4.2 million passengers, although no estimates were provided for their spending and how many left ship while in port.

Arrivals via Nassau Cruise Port played a significant role in the nine million-plus total visitor numbers for 2023 that were recently touted by Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation.

Once confirmed, the nine million figure will be some one million - and 12.5 percent - above initial 2023 arrivals projections for The Bahamas. Mr Cooper said the arrivals increase is estimated to have generated more than $6bn in visitor spending that has directly impacted the Bahamian economy.