The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism (MOT) is stepping up its efforts in China, hoping to tap into the growing market of middle-class Chinese tourists.

By 2015, 100 million Chinese will travel abroad, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the MOT has been increasing its visibility in Asia to try to reach this market, says the Ministry’s director for Asia, Don Cornish, who attended the International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism in Beijing last week.

“That is how we create our business,” Cornish said, speaking of the one-day conference, which welcomed more than 300 delegates from around 20 countries. “We need to travel for trade and make connections. We are getting to know how business is done and strategies that will work.”

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Today marks the 41st year of independence for The Bahamas and kicks off a weekend of celebrations. The team at The Bahamas Investor would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Bahamian people on achieving self governance and the continued development of the nation. At The Bahamas Investor, our goal is to promote the jurisdiction as a primary destination in which to live, work and invest.

Thank you to all our readers for your support in this endeavour and Happy Independence Day! Posts will resume as normal on Monday July 14.

Here follows the Independence Day message from the Prime Minister to the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas:

It is with great pride and honour that I congratulate Bahamian people everywhere on the occasion of the country’s 41st Independence Anniversary.

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Chartered flights, greater airlift and more overnight stays have boosted visitor numbers in Grand Bahama by 33 per cent over the last year, according to Joy Jibrilu, director general of tourism. Watch a ZNS Network news report here.
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Dame Marguerite Pindling has been named as the new governor general. Watch a ZNS Network news report here.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry has published a statement on behalf of President Barack Obama and the people of the United States congratulating the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on their 41st anniversary of independence.

Here follows the press release from the US Department of State:

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President and managing director at Atlantis George Markantonis has hailed the new alliance between the Atlantis Paradise Island resort and Marriot Hotels as a significant milestone for tourism in The Bahamas. Watch an interview with Markantonis here.
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The Bahamas celebrates Independence Day on Thursday this week and the government has planned a week of events. Watch a ZNS Network news report here.
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The investment funds industry experienced significant growth in the number of licensed and registered funds operating in or from The Bahamas in 2013, according to the Securities Commission of The Bahamas.

There was a 15.5 per cent increase, from 652 at the end of 2012 to 753 at 31 December 2013.

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Southwest Airlines started regular services between Nassau and Baltimore last week.
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