Location

• The islands of the Bahamas lie slightly north of the Caribbean islands, less than an hour flight to the east of Florida in the United States. It is not geographically part of the Caribbean, but a member of the Caribbean Commonwealth.
  
  The country has a population of approximately 330,000 people, most of whom work in the tourist trade as this is the biggest industry of the country. There are emigrant Bahamian communities in the United States and the UK.
  
  

Tourist Attractions

• The islands of the Bahamas are relatively flat, rarely raising 60 feet above sea level. There are several hundred small islands in the archipelago, several of which were used as bases by pirates in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The main tourist attractions are the beaches and the historic remains of the British colonization.
  
  

Bahamian Event Tourism

• The local culture, particularly the regattas where different islands compete against other traditional racing craft, creates events that also attract tourists. Other events are the traditional street parades with accompanying music performances called Junkanoo. The regattas and music festivals have previously been the main opportunity for Bahamians to visit other islands.
  
  

Government Programs

• The Bahamian Ministry of Tourism started a program to encourage Bahamians to visit their own islands in 1998. It set up a program to allow workers in the hospitality industry to stay in hotels on the islands. Part of the reason is to encourage workers in the hospitality industry to experience their workplaces through the eyes of visitors. Another reason is to retain the national income in the country, as many Bahamians traditionally travel to the United States to shop during their vacations.
  
  

Deals for Bahamians

• The Bahamian government conducted investigations into why so many Bahamians travel abroad for vacations. After recognizing that the main reason was the cost of the trips and the hotel stay, the government created a program in 2008 with special deals for Bahamians to encourage them to travel outside their home islands. This includes subsidized flights between the islands (companions fly free), subsidized hotel stays and meal coupons. As of 2010, there had not been an official evaluation of the program's success.