Pilots ready and excited to revisit The Bahamas following Sun ‘n Fun
PLANTATION, FLORIDA — Scores of private pilots from throughout the US who attended the 47th Annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 13-18, stopped by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (BMOTA) booth eager to get information about The Bahamas — the region’s top destination in general aviation.
Some of them had already begun preparations to fly out to The Bahamas following the conclusion of Sun ‘n Fun on April 19, 2021.
The event marked the first in-person trade activity attended by the BMOTA sales and marketing team since the novel coronavirus pandemic began. All team members adhered to strict CDC safety guidelines during the show and have since tested negative for COVID-19.
A limited 300 exhibitors participated in the show, where The Bahamas was the premier destination featured.
While organizers of Sun ‘n Fun had expected this year’s show to be less busy than previous shows, due to the pandemic, the reverse occurred.
In fact, according to John “Lites” Leenhouts, CEO of Sun ‘n Fun: “This year’s show sold 1.45 million tickets, up by 30 percent more than the show’s best year of 1.1 million in ticket sales.”
The uptick in business activity and interest was evident for the islands of The Bahamas, which experienced non-stop brisk business activity at its booth throughout the show.
Greg Rolle, senior director of Verticals Markets, BMOTA, said: “Pilots were eager and happy to see us and learn about our country’s reopening, travel protocols and latest product offerings, especially in our Family Islands.
“By Friday morning (April 16), which is traditionally the show’s second busiest day next to Saturday, we had already run out of our Bahamas Pilot Guide, a technical booklet we give only to pilots, who have either already planned a trip to The Bahamas or commit to do so.”
Throughout the show, executives of the BMOTA participated in numerous radio broadcasts on 1510 AM, flight line broadcasts and two television shows with Florida Aviation Network.
Joining representatives from the BMOTA at the show were Bahamas Consul General in Miami Linda Mackey; Nathan Butler, Bahamas Customs; Andy Ingraham, Bahamas Global Pre-Clear Program and The Bahamas’ Fixed Based Operators (FBO) Banyan Air and Sheltair, who promoted The Bahamas’ pre-clearance service, which is expected to open soon at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE).
The new service will allow private pilots to pre-clear Bahamas Customs and Immigration at FXE without further formalities in The Bahamas, and fly directly into any island in The Bahamas, thereby giving them more time to vacation in The Bahamas.
