NASSAU — The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation has announced a historic new benchmark: 12.5 million visitors, the highest annual total ever recorded by The Bahamas.

Visitor arrivals for 2025 grew 11.4% year-over-year, surpassing 2024’s record and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 70%.

Canada continues to emerge as one of The Bahamas’ fastest-growing stopover markets, with year-round arrivals now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong demand from Ontario and Quebec and expanding airline service.

“Reaching 12.5 million visitors is a defining achievement for The Bahamas and a clear signal of confidence in our destination, our leadership, and our tourism strategy. Tourism continues to be a powerful engine of economic growth, delivering jobs, investment, and opportunity for Bahamians across our islands. While we are proud of this performance, our focus remains on sustaining growth responsibly and ensuring that the benefits of tourism continue to strengthen communities throughout the country,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, I. Chester Cooper.

Cruise tourism remained the primary driver of growth, accounting for 86.5% of total arrivals. Sea arrivals exceeded 10.6 million visitors, a 14% YOY increase.

On Grand Bahama, for the first time in more than 22 years, total arrivals surpassed one million, reaching approximately 1.1 million through December. Air arrivals increased 20% year-over-year compared to 2024.

Beyond the major gateways, tourism growth continued to diversify across the Family Islands. Eleuthera recorded nearly 30% growth, while Bimini and the Berry Islands continued to expand their roles as cruise destinations. Nearly 30% of stopover visitors traveled to the Out Islands.

Looking specifically at air arrivals, nearly 1.7 million foreign air visitors travelled to The Bahamas in 2025.

“Welcoming 12.5 million visitors speaks to the strength of Brand Bahamas and the clarity of our market positioning. Demand is being driven by our island offerings, strong performance across multiple travel segments, and a destination that consistently meets the expectations of today’s global traveller. This momentum reflects how effectively The Bahamas is engaging international markets while building long-term competitiveness for the future,” said Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism.

There were also more than 1.8 million stopover visitors in 2025. About two-thirds stayed in Nassau/Paradise Island, while nearly 30% travelled to the Out Islands.

Lead image caption: Nassau, The Bahamas