NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, the Hon. I. Chester Cooper, is encouraging Bahamians to position themselves to take fuller advantage of expanding opportunities within the cruise tourism sector.
Speaking at the Opportunities from Cruise Industries Meeting, hosted by the Tourism Development Corporation at Margaritaville Beach Resort, the Deputy Prime Minister addressed cruise executives, government officials, port leaders, tourism agencies and local operators, emphasizing that record cruise arrivals must translate into stronger participation and ownership for Bahamians.
The Bahamas recently recorded 12.5 million visitor arrivals, with cruise passengers accounting for a significant portion of that growth across Nassau, Freeport, Bimini, Eleuthera and the Berry Islands.
“That level of visitation represents tremendous opportunity,” Mr. Cooper said. “It represents jobs, entrepreneurship, innovation and room for Bahamians to expand their footprint within the tourism economy.”
While acknowledging the strong and longstanding partnership between The Bahamas and its cruise partners, the Deputy Prime Minister said the focus must now be on ensuring that Bahamian businesses are well-positioned to benefit from continued growth.
He encouraged local entrepreneurs to strengthen service standards, invest in product development, and create compelling cultural, culinary and experiential offerings that encourage cruise passengers to explore beyond the port.
“The Bahamas is more than a stop on an itinerary,” he said. “It is culture, heritage, art, music and authentic experiences. When we elevate our product, we increase spending, improve repeat visitation and build long-term sustainability.”
The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the Government is continuing to invest in destination readiness, including downtown revitalization efforts, expanded restroom facilities, enhanced tourism police presence, incubation centres for new entrepreneurs, public-private redevelopment of vacant properties, cultural activations such as “Bites on Bay,” and targeted infrastructure improvements.
“These initiatives are designed to create an environment where Bahamian enterprises can thrive,” he said. “But success requires initiative from all of us.”
Mr. Cooper underscored the importance of collaboration between government, cruise lines and local businesses to expand Bahamian-operated shore excursions, strengthen marketing alignment and support research-driven planning to identify new areas of growth. He also encouraged the development of a comprehensive economic impact study, to provide greater clarity on the cruise sector’s contribution and help guide future strategic decisions.
“Twelve point five million arrivals demonstrate the strength of our brand,” Mr. Cooper said. “Our task now is to convert that strength into broader ownership, stronger enterprises and shared prosperity across our islands.”
He concluded by urging Bahamians to approach cruise tourism not just as a source of jobs, but as a platform for entrepreneurship and innovation. “The opportunities are there,” he said. “We must seize them.”
