NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Government-reported tourism revenue is under renewed scrutiny, with the Opposition highlighting discrepancies that suggest Bahamians are not seeing the benefits of touted record visitor arrivals.
Opposition leader Michael Pintard in a statement, accused the Davis Administration of having a troubling record of inflating numbers and misleading the public. “The revenue we supposedly earned from tourism impacts the entire economic picture. By touting hugely overstated tourism revenues, the government is misrepresenting our balance of payments and creating a false sense of fiscal strength. At a time when our economy faces serious structural challenges, we cannot afford fiction dressed up as fact,” he said.
The IMF has indicated that the country’s reported tourism revenue may be overstated by as much as $923 million—roughly 6.5 percent of national GDP. GDP is expected to grow by 1.7 percent this year. “The FNM has constantly warned Chester Cooper, the Minister of Tourism, to stop beating his chest and pounding his fist about these record arrival numbers because Bahamians are simply not feeling the effects of any increased spend,” Pintard said.
Offshore financial flows remain a concern. In 2023, countries such as Luxembourg and Singapore reported more than $90 billion in investments linked to The Bahamas, yet Bahamian officials could account for only a small portion of these inflows, undermining public trust and international confidence. “From yachting to air arrivals, every inflated claim from the PLP must now be viewed with skepticism. Marina operators, charter companies, and business owners have reported steep declines in activity and spending. So, when the DPM says ‘we’ve broken records,’ the Bahamian people must ask: By whose numbers? Based on what data?” Pintard said.
Deputy Prime Minister Cooper has defended the government’s data while acknowledging ongoing efforts to modernize tourism reporting. Initiatives include the rollout of a digital immigration landing card system to capture real-time departure surveys, updated visitor spending questions, and regulatory changes addressing financial “leakages” in private cruise destinations. These reforms are intended to more accurately capture direct spending as well as broader economic effects such as taxes, departure fees, and private destination revenue.
The FNM reiterated its call for reform, stating that a Pintard-led administration would overhaul how tourism is measured and reported, starting with modernizing the tourism expenditure survey and implementing transparent, verifiable data systems. The party has also develop a strategic plan to grow high-value stopover visitors, who spend 20 times more than cruise passengers, while ensuring Bahamians receive a fairer share of sector revenues.
