Tourism in the Bahamas affects workers, households, and public revenues across islands such as New Providence and Grand Bahama, as well as excursion destinations like Exuma and Blue Lagoon Island. In 2023, visitors arrived through both stopovers and cruises, with hotels operating around national averages and higher occupancy reported in Nassau/Paradise Island. This page traces how lodging performance, tour demand, and cruise activity combine to generate billions in tourism revenue and a large share of GDP, with the strongest influence coming from U.S.-driven demand.
Key Takeaways
- The Bahamas had 25,000 hotel rooms available in 2023.
- Hotel occupancy rate averaged 72% across The Bahamas in 2023.
- Nassau/Paradise Island hotels reported 78% occupancy in 2023.
- 1.2 million visitors participated in snorkeling tours in The Bahamas in 2023.
- Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island attracted 4 million visitors in 2023.
- Swimming with pigs in Exuma drew 180,000 tourists in 2023.
- 7.5 million cruise passengers visited The Bahamas in 2023.
- Nassau Cruise Port handled 5.8 million passengers in 2023.
- Royal Caribbean ships made 1,200 port calls in The Bahamas in 2023.
- Tourism revenue in The Bahamas reached $4.5 billion in 2023.
- Tourism contributed 35% to The Bahamas' GDP in 2023, equating to $5.2 billion.
- Direct employment from tourism in The Bahamas was 60,000 jobs in 2023.
- In 2023, The Bahamas recorded 9.6 million total tourist arrivals, including both air and sea visitors.
- Stopover visitors to The Bahamas reached 1.61 million in 2023, up 13.5% from 2022.
- January 2024 saw 920,000 total visitors to The Bahamas, primarily from cruise ships.
In 2023, The Bahamas welcomed millions of visitors, driving $4.5 billion in tourism revenue and strong occupancy.
Related reading
01 · Category
Accommodation Statistics20 stats
01
The Bahamas had 25,000 hotel rooms available in 2023.
02
Hotel occupancy rate averaged 72% across The Bahamas in 2023.
03
Nassau/Paradise Island hotels reported 78% occupancy in 2023.
04
Average daily room rate (ADR) was $320in The Bahamas luxury resorts in 2023.
05
New hotel openings added 2,500 rooms in The Bahamas in 2023.
06
Vacation rentals numbered 15,000 units in The Bahamas in 2023.
07
All-inclusive resorts accounted for 40% of hotel bookings in 2023.
08
RevPAR (revenue per available room) reached $230in The Bahamas in 2023.
09
Boutique hotels grew by 15% in room count to 3,200 in 2023.
10
Family suites represented 25% of total hotel inventory in 2023.
11
Eco-lodges increased to 500 rooms in The Bahamas outer islands in 2023.
12
Bimini hotel rooms: 2,100 in 2023.
13
Average group booking size: 45 rooms in 2023.
14
Timeshare units: 4,500 across The Bahamas in 2023.
15
Peak season occupancy: 85% in December 2023.
16
Budget hotels ADR: $180in 2023.
17
5-star properties: 25 hotels with 8,000 rooms in 2023.
18
Villa rentals occupancy: 68% in 2023.
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Sustainable hotels certified: 45 in 2023.
20
Room nights sold: 6.2 million in 2023.
Interpretation
Accommodation Statistics Interpretation
In 2023, The Bahamas strengthened its accommodation capacity with 25,000 hotel rooms and 2,500 new rooms coming online while keeping demand solid at a 72% average occupancy and a $320 luxury ADR, even as vacation rentals scaled to 15,000 units.
02 · Category
Attractions And Activities20 stats
01
1.2 million visitors participated in snorkeling tours in The Bahamas in 2023.
02
Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island attracted 4 million visitors in 2023.
03
Swimming with pigs in Exuma drew 180,000 tourists in 2023.
04
Blue Lagoon Island hosted 300,000 day trippers in 2023.
05
Golf course rounds played totaled 250,000 in The Bahamas in 2023.
06
Scuba diving certifications issued reached 12,000 in 2023.
07
Junkanoo Festival attendance was 50,000 during New Year's 2023.
08
Fishing charters booked 45,000 trips in The Bahamas in 2023.
09
Andros Bonefishing attracted 35,000 anglers in 2023.
10
National parks visits totaled 450,000 in 2023.
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Thunderball Reef snorkelers: 90,000 in 2023.
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Lucayan National Park: 120,000 visitors in 2023.
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Catamaran sunset cruises: 75,000 participants in 2023.
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Kiteboarding sessions: 25,000 in 2023.
15
Historical site tours: 200,000 visitors to sites like Fort Charlotte in 2023.
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Parasailing rides: 40,000 in 2023.
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Birdwatching tours: 18,000 birders in 2023.
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Food tours participation: 60,000 in Nassau 2023.
19
Waterpark visits at Atlantis: 1.8 million slides in 2023.
20
Dolphin encounters: 350,000 interactions in 2023.
Interpretation
Attractions And Activities Interpretation
In 2023, The Bahamas showed strong demand for hands on experiences and recreation, with 1.2 million visitors joining snorkeling tours, 4 million people visiting Atlantis Resort, and another 12,000 scuba diving certifications issued, underscoring that attractions and activities are a major driver of tourist engagement.
03 · Category
Cruise Tourism22 stats
01
7.5 million cruise passengers visited The Bahamas in 2023.
02
Nassau Cruise Port handled 5.8 million passengers in 2023.
03
Royal Caribbean ships made 1,200 port calls in The Bahamas in 2023.
04
Average cruise ship size was 3,500 passengers per vessel in The Bahamas in 2023.
05
Private island visits by cruises reached 2.1 million in 2023.
06
Cruise turnarounds in Nassau totaled 150 ships in 2023.
07
Carnival Cruise Line brought 2.2 million passengers to The Bahamas in 2023.
08
Norwegian Cruise Line port calls increased 20% to 450 in 2023.
09
Average cruise dwell time was 8.5 hours in Bahamian ports in 2023.
10
Freeport Cruise Port saw 1.4 million passengers in 2023.
11
85% of cruise visitors engaged in shore excursions in 2023.
12
New cruise terminal investments totaled $300 million in 2023.
13
MSC Cruises delivered 800,000 passengers to The Bahamas in 2023.
14
Celebrity Cruises port visits: 300 in 2023.
15
Cruise ship berths in Nassau: 25,000 in 2023.
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Shore excursion bookings: 3.2 million in 2023.
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Disney Cruise Line: 450,000 passengers in 2023.
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Homeporting ships: 50 in Freeport 2023.
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Cruise revenue share: 55% of total tourism in 2023.
20
Longest cruise itinerary: 14 days, 120 bookings in 2023.
21
Private yacht charters via cruises: 15,000 in 2023.
22
Ocean Cay MSC island: 500,000 visits in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Revenue And Economic Impact21 stats
01
Tourism revenue in The Bahamas reached $4.5 billion in 2023.
02
Tourism contributed 35% to The Bahamas' GDP in 2023, equating to $5.2 billion.
03
Direct employment from tourism in The Bahamas was 60,000 jobs in 2023.
04
Hotel room revenue generated $1.8 billion in The Bahamas in 2023.
05
Cruise passenger spending averaged $150per person in The Bahamas in 2023.
06
Tax revenue from tourism totaled $800 million for The Bahamas government in 2023.
07
Foreign exchange earnings from tourism hit $4.1 billion in 2023.
08
Tourism multiplier effect supported 120,000 indirect jobs in 2023.
09
Average daily tourist spend was $285in The Bahamas in 2023.
10
Stopover visitor spending contributed $3.2 billion to the economy in 2023.
11
Tourism growth rate was 18% in 2023 compared to 2022.
12
Resort development investments reached $2.5 billion in 2023.
13
Tourism exports grew 16% to $4.3 billion in 2023.
14
Visitor spending on food and beverage was $1.1 billion in 2023.
15
Construction jobs from tourism resorts: 10,000 in 2023.
16
Duty-free shopping revenue: $450 million in 2023.
17
Adventure tourism spend: $600 million in 2023.
18
Luxury segment contributed $1.5 billion in 2023.
19
SME businesses supported by tourism: 5,000 in 2023.
20
Inflation-adjusted tourism GDP share: 32% in 2023.
21
Projected 2024 revenue: $5.1 billion.
05 · Category
Visitor Arrivals20 stats
01
In 2023, The Bahamas recorded 9.6 million total tourist arrivals, including both air and sea visitors.
02
Stopover visitors to The Bahamas reached 1.61 million in 2023, up 13.5% from 2022.
03
January 2024 saw 920,000 total visitors to The Bahamas, primarily from cruise ships.
04
U.S. tourists accounted for 80% of stopover arrivals in The Bahamas in 2023, totaling 1.29 million.
05
Canadian visitors to The Bahamas numbered 205,000 in 2023, representing 12.7% of stopovers.
06
UK tourists made 45,000 stopover visits to The Bahamas in 2023.
07
Family travelers comprised 35% of all stopover visitors to The Bahamas in 2023.
08
Average length of stay for stopover visitors was 6.8 nights in The Bahamas in 2023.
09
February 2023 had 856,000 total arrivals, with a 15% year-over-year growth.
10
Nassau welcomed 4.2 million visitors in 2023, 44% of national total.
11
Grand Bahama saw 1.1 million visitors in 2023, driven by cruise traffic.
12
Exuma Islands received 250,000 tourists in 2023, up 25% from prior year.
13
In 2022, total arrivals were 8.2 million, providing baseline for 2023 growth.
14
March 2024 arrivals hit 1.05 million, seasonal peak.
15
European visitors totaled 120,000 stopovers in 2023.
16
Millennial travelers were 28% of visitors in 2023.
17
Repeat visitors comprised 55% of stopovers in 2023.
18
Q4 2023 arrivals grew 22% to 2.8 million.
19
Abaco Islands received 150,000 visitors post-hurricane recovery in 2023.
20
Eleuthera saw 220,000 tourists in 2023.
Interpretation
Visitor Arrivals Interpretation
In 2023, visitor arrivals to The Bahamas totaled 9.6 million overall, and strong stopover growth reached 1.61 million up 13.5% from 2022, showing cruise and air demand are both important but stopovers are the key momentum driver with the United States supplying 1.29 million of those visitors.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Bahamas Tourism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bahamas-tourism-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Bahamas Tourism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bahamas-tourism-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Bahamas Tourism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bahamas-tourism-statistics.
Sources & references
85 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level