Bahamas Hurricane Kit

BAHAMAS HURRICANE KIT

Key Points to Remember

The Islands Of The Bahamas: Prepared for 2006 hurricane season.

In spite of incredibly active hurricanes seasons that grabbed headlines in 2004 and 2005, The Bahamas continues to attract an increasing number of visitors. This positive outcome is attributable to several factors with two of the most important being:

·  The Islands Of The Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands, about 30 inhabited, which spread across 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean

·  Residents and business people in The Bahamas accept hurricanes as a fact of life in the destination and prepare for the occasional direct threat appropriately

What about tourism in The Islands Of The Bahamas?

·  Tourism is the number one industry in The Bahamas contributing 75 percent of the nation’s GDP

·  More than half of all Bahamians derive their income directly, or indirectly, from tourism

·  Nassau/Paradise Island is the #1 tourist destination in The Bahamas, followed by Grand Bahama Island and Abaco in the Out Islands

·  The Islands Of The Bahamas takes visitor and resident safety seriously before, during and after hurricane season

·  More than 5 million travelers visited The Islands Of The Bahamas in 2005

·  The Islands Of The Bahamas took in a record $2 billion dollars in tourism revenue in 2005

How did The Islands Of The Bahamas Weather Hurricane Wilma?

Hurricane Wilma crossed through the northwestern part of The Bahamas {date}. The storm’s impact was limited to Bimini, Grand Bahama Island and the northern part of Abaco.

Hurricane Wilma’s impact on tourism infrastructure was largely limited to cosmetic damage, loss of vegetation and coastal erosion in some areas. Some structures in Bimini were affected by storm surge which also damaged the West End of Grand Bahama Island. Old Bahama Bay resort in West End has not only reopened to guests, but also instituted improvements, replacing their tile roof with a sealed-seam steel roof.

Recovery and revitalization begin immediately following hurricanes and in fact, result in the acceleration of improvements to properties.

The Islands Of The Bahamas has generally strong building codes in place ensuring that new structures are appropriate to the challenge occasionally posed by hurricanes.

Is The Islands Of The Bahamas ready for the 2006 summer travel season?

Yes. Resorts, lodges and hotels on Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island and throughout the Out Islands are open. Visitors will find miles and miles of some of the finest sand beaches in the world and adventures abound from diving and snorkeling to fishing, kayaking and more.

What should visitors know before planning a Bahamas vacation?

·  The Islands Of The Bahamas is a safe destination year-round

·  With 100,000 square miles of ocean, a hurricane within The Bahamas’ territorial waters, rarely disrupts the experience of a majority of visitors

·  Hotels have well rehearsed preparedness plans should a hurricane threaten

·  The Bahamas Hotel Association has a hurricane cancellation policy in which most members participate

Is it safe to plan a Bahamas vacation during hurricane season with such active seasons?

Yes. Nassau/Paradise Island remains the most visited destination within The Bahamas. Headline grabbing Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma were basically rain events for this island.