Caribbean Business Reports

Grand Bahama welcomed its first official visitors since being devastated by Hurricane Dorian in early September.

The 138 tourists arrived on the island yesterday, November 26 from the United States for the Annual Tabernacle Falcons Thanksgiving Basketball Classic.

• Related story: The Bahamas recovering following devastation of Hurricane Dorian

A Bahamian contingent which included members of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (BMOTA) and the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board greeted the group upon arrival.

BMOTA general manager for Grand Bahama, Steven Johnson, said “It was important for us to welcome this first commercial international flight since Hurricane Dorian. Every opportunity to put heads in beds in Grand Bahama is more important now than ever.”

The Basketball Classic team was transported by Bahamasair, the nation’s national carrier, for the first time in its staging.

The Abacos and Grand Bahama Islands of The Bahamas were battered by the Category 5 system on September 1. Approximately 60 people were killed with hundreds still missing following the devastating storm which causes billions of dollars in losses and damages.

• Related story: Hurricane Dorian damage put at US$3.4 billion in The Bahamas

The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that the total impact and cost totalled US$3.4 billion.