NASSAU, Bahamas, Nov. 9, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On November 16, 2016 The Islands of The Bahamas will strengthen its position as the leading destination for weddings and honeymoons when it hosts its 3rd Sixteen Weddings Invitation. The excitement kicks off on November 13 when 16 lucky couples will be treated to a warm Bahamian welcome at an exquisite dinner reception at Fathoms celebration venue at Atlantis. Officially launched in February 2016, the 16 Weddings initiative gives 16 Canadian couples the chance of a lifetime to have their dream weddings in The Bahamas, simultaneously, at 16 different locations throughout The Islands of The Bahamas. As the16 Canadian couples prepare for the wedding of a lifetime The Bahamas is readying itself to welcome more than 160 guests, accompanying the ecstatic couples, on Nassau/Paradise Island and throughout the Family Islands. Paul Strachan, Sr. Director of the Bahamas Tourism Office (BTO) in Canada is assured that this promotion will continue to increase visitor arrivals from Canada. "In 2015, we were successful in achieving a 5% year-over-year increase in visitor arrivals from Canada to The Bahamas. The additional marketing initiatives we engaged in to support this promotion will reinforce our message that The Islands Of The Bahamas is a premier, award winning wedding and honeymoon destination, with multiple islands and multi options for all things romantic. We're confident that this promotion will generate further increases in visitors from Canada; particularly within the romantic travel segment," he said. Bahamas Director of Romance, Freda Malcolm says the economic benefits of a promotion such as 16 Weddings Invitation are widespread. "Couples plus family and friends will spend approximately one week in The Islands of The Bahamas experiencing a great deal of what The Bahamas has to offer in terms of local culinary delights, shopping, sightseeing, special themed excursions, casinos, and nightlife. In addition to the venues that will host the weddings, wedding planners, consultants, floral artists, hair stylists, makeup artists, musicians, videographers, and photographers will also be hard at work making sure the couples enjoy their special day. Deputy Director General of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Ellison Thompson, believes that The Bahamas' decision to capitalize on the wedding and honeymoon market is clever. "The Islands of The Bahamas has made a strategic decision to embrace the Romance market. With so many islands, we need to find unique and innovative ways to communicate our variety and diversity to the consumer. This promotion does that and the Romance market is one of the most resilient and recession proof sectors which brings great economic benefit to the destination." he said. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism launched the first initiative in the United Kingdom in 2012. The UK promotion attracted more than 40,000 visitors to the Bahamas 16 Weddings website, and the promotion won the Most Innovative Marketing Campaign Award 2013 by The Chartered institute of Marketing. The USA promotion in 2014 saw more than 3,000 couples enter for a chance to win a Bahamas wedding. That same year, the wedding and honeymoon market brought in 76,000 stopover visitors and a total of $112,175,240. For more information on this dynamic initiative visit http://bahamas16weddings.com . The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world's best golfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It's Better in The Bahamas. For travel packages, activities and accommodations information, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com . Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook Twitter and YouTube
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CONTACT:Dawn Demeritte ddemeritte@bahamas.com (242) 397-2791 Anita Johnson-Patty ajohnson@bahamas.com (954) 236-9292
