Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, attended the 45th Annual Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, taking place this week in Lakeland, Florida.

The largest convention in Florida and the second largest aviation conference in the United States, Sun ’n Fun attracts more than 200,000 pilots, aviation enthusiasts and media professionals from around the world and features some 500 vendors and over 10,000 airplanes, from homebuilt to war birds.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (MOTA) has a joint marketing partnership with Sun ’n Fun International, to promote its destination, private aviation guidelines, benefits, seminars, and fly outs, all of which have proven beneficial for The Bahamas.

“The relationship between the Ministry of Tourism and Sun n’ Fun international has been one that is exceptional beneficial, and we will work together to ensure that it’s a lasting one,” said Minister D’Aguilar.

In 2018, The Bahamas received over 122,000 private aviation arrivals, and private jet charters generated more than $387 million in revenue for the country, making The Bahamas the Caribbean’s top destination for private aviation. In 2018, The Bahamas also experienced historic growth in tourism, as more than 6.6 million persons visited the country, a figure which represents an increase of 486,176 visitors over 2017, and the highest number of visitors the destination has ever welcomed in its history.

The Bahamas has an increased visibility at this year’s Sun ’n Fun during several Bahamas seminars, a dinner reception, and radio broadcasts, which will showcase the new Bahamas’ “Fly Away” commercials featuring Bahamian-American rock legend, Lenny Kravitz.

The MOTA team will also participate in numerous radio and television broadcasts during the week, including an exclusive 30-minute television broadcast on Florida Aviation Network, with Minister D’Aguilar.

As a close out to Sun ’n Fun on April 7, some 40 pilots will fly out from Sun ’n Fun to Freeport, Grand Bahama, Cat Island and Treasure Cay, Abaco. The trip will be broadcast and streamed live into Sun ’n Fun, to further demonstrate and promote The Bahamas’ proximity to the US, its natural beauty, unique culture and ease of travel to its islands.