Pictured in China from left to right: Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (MOTA); Paul Strachan Sr Director, Canada and China, MOTA; Anna Lidia Cerna, International Marketing Manager, Baha Mar; B.J. Saunders, Director, Majestic Tours; Russell Miller, Director, The Cove & Reef; Wendy Blaney, International Sales Director, Atlantis; Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguliar; Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield; Director General of MOTA Joy Jibrilu; Bahamas Ambassador to China Sterling Quant; and Robert “Sandy” Sands, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Baha Mar.
CHINA — A Bahamas delegation led Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Darren A. Henfield and Minister of Tourism and Aviation the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar recently spent two days in Beijing and two days in Shanghai, China, meeting with key travel industry leaders to promote The Bahamas to the growing and affluent Chinese market.
The Bahamas hosted trade and media days in both cities that were “oversubscribed with over 100 media and trade partners — both consumer and travel trade media — attending each event,” according to Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, in response to questions emailed to him.
“Initially to build awareness and build demand, The Bahamas is promoting add-on visits for those Chinese passengers already in possession of a.US and or Canadian Visa to consider The Bahamas as an add-on to their North American tour,” Mr. Thompson said.
He noted that interest in The Bahamas “was strong and very encouraging with some of the partners on the trip coming away with hot leads.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation was joined on the trip by representatives from Atlantis, Baha Mar, The Pointe and Majestic Tours.
