Disney Magic Headed For Bahamas Holidays

The perfect opportunity has come for anyone hoping to book cruising Bahamas holidays for the entire family in 2012. Carla Stuart, Director of Cruise Development at the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation in the Bahamas recently announced that Disney Magic cruises ship will be calling at Nassau in 2012. Disney Magic is no stranger to the Bahamas and this would be the second time the family-oriented cruise line has included the Bahamas in its itinerary, with Grand Bahama said to be one of its stops in the early 2000s.

In April 2012, the Disney Magic cruise liner will set off on three to four day voyages to the Caribbean taking passengers to cruise holidays in the Bahamas along with other exotic destinations. The announcement was a welcomed one with the Bahamas and all the key stakeholders in the island chain’s tourism industry set to gain as much as $3 million in revenue from the deal. ”Based on preliminary estimates, The Bahamas could potentially receive $648,000 in head taxes and other fees… We welcome the Magic to Nassau once again. This announcement is good news for all of our industry partners who service this sector - excursion operators, merchants, restaurant owners, taxis, straw vendors, etc.” noted Mr Stuart.

The announcement gives credence to Tourism Director General David Johnson’s claims that the Bahamian cruise industry is “stronger than ever and showing no signs of slowing down any time soon”. With 36,000 people capacity aboard the Disney Magic, which is scheduled to make 15 additional visits to Nassau this year, it is estimated that passengers would spend $2,391,480. The arrival of the Disney Magic has all the makings of an exciting time for the local tourism industry as it also serves to lift the profile of family-friendly Bahamas holidays.

While the outlook for the local cruise industry looks positive, Bahamian tourism experts, including Stuart Bowe, president of The Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA), have expressed concerns for the number of air arrivals and occupancy levels at Bahamas hotels for 2012; stating that both of these indicators could return to pre-recession levels. David Johnson however has stressed the importance on building on the momentum gained last year and promoting the Bahamas as a leading holiday destination in the Caribbean. “There is no letting up on the promotions in terms of investment… you have to remind people constantly of what you have”. There is no doubt that Carla Stuart will be hoping that some of the Disney magic will rub off on the island chain’s wider tourism industry in 2012.

By: Susan Crown

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Giving families with children the perfect opportunity to embark on cruising Bahamas holidays, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism recently announced that Disney Magic cruises would soon be calling at the island’s port in Nassau, bringing families to child-oriented holidays in the Bahamas as part of Disney’s new cruising itinerary.