Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association

As The Bahamas heralds its supreme athletes, the Nation also salutes our Culinary Competitors as they ready themselves for a different kind of elite competition, one where Taste, not speed is the flavor of the day. Major Sponsors, BTC, Bristol Cellars, Bank of The Bahamas, Sand Beer and Ministry of Tourism stop by to take a photo with the Team.

The chief of Atlantis, the country’s largest private sector employer, said it the resort is now ready to “do what needs to be done” to implement value-added tax (VAT), adding that the company is “thankful” that the government has decided to delay the tax until 2015.

Effective Date January 1, 2015
·         Lower Rate Welcome and Extends to Lowering of Room Tax
·         BHTA Following Up on Outstanding Issues Impacting Competitiveness
·         Draft Legislation to be Released in Coming Weeks

Prime Minister Christie announced yesterday in his annual budget communication that Government will introduce Value Added Tax at 7.5%, down from the 15% originally proposed.  The 10 percent hotel room tax, which will convert to a VAT, will be reduced to 7.5% as well.  The legislation will come into effect on January 1, 2015.  The draft legislation will be shared with BHTA members for feedback.

Ten years’ worth of data released for the first time this month by The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association shows that the extent to which visitors have found their vacation experiences in The Bahamas to have exceeded their expectations fell slightly in the mid-2000s, only to rise after 2009.