(Graphic via World Tourism Organization/UNWTO)

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation partnered with Air Canada, Atlantis Paradise Island, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar and Grand Isle Resort to host senior level managers from 12 leading Chinese travel agencies to a familiarization visit to The Islands Of The Bahamas in June.

The objective of the trip was for agents to gain a comprehensive overview and understanding of the destination, and to connect with local industry suppliers so that they could create customized travel itineraries for their clients visiting from China.

Activities included a gala dinner hosted by senior officials of Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Joy Jibrilu, director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and senior director Paul Strachan were also in attendance.

Jibrilu expressed her thanks and appreciation to the travel agents and Air Canada for travelling to The Bahamas to experience what the destination has to offer, and stated that she looked forward to their ongoing support.

Strachan said: “This fam trip is very important because we are now re-engaging with Chinese travel agents and consumers so that we can increase visitor arrivals to The Bahamas from China. While they were here, we showed them what our country has to offer so that they can create vacation packages to promote and sell to their clients.”

During the seven-day trip, the Chinese trade delegates visited various hotels and resorts; participated in cultural, historic and family attractions; and experienced authentic Bahamian cuisine in Nassau/Paradise Island and Exuma – two of The Bahamas’ popular destinations.

The group travelled to Exuma on Bahamasair where they explored the main island and participated in a full day excursion to visit the Exuma Cays.

The founder and general manager of Sparkling Tour Travel, Zhang Hong, said: “Sparkling Tour started to promote the destination five years ago. We had learned that Chinese customers very much liked island vacations. After they visited popular islands in South Asia, they expressed that they would like to find and experience something new. So, from then on we started to promote The Bahamas. Now I think your beautiful destination is becoming more popular in the China market.”