CaribWorldNews, WASHINGTON, D.C., Thurs. Oct. 30, 2008: When it comes to promoting its tourism product, the islands of the Bahamas is shelling out major bucks compared to other Caribbean nations, spending millions in one year alone, a CWNN analysis has found.

An examination of the latest Foreign Agents Registration report, released by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism shelled out over $42 million in tourism in 2007, the latest data available from the US Department of Justice.

In the first half of 2007 alone, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism spent $19,199,044.00 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2007 on conventions, familiarization trips, expos, trade/consumer shows, conferences, and seminars, according to the report.

And in the second half of the year, the Ministry spent another  $21,230,000 on the same type of promotion.

Ironically, in the same year, the islands experienced a drop in tourist arrivals – for both stop-over and cruise ship arrivals, according to Caribbean Tourism data from that year.

The Bahamas clearly outspent other Caribbean nations, according to FARA reports, with its spending totaling a fraction of the Caribbean Tourism Organization`s budget for the entire 2007.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization promotional budget was just over $3 million for the entire 2007.

The only country closet to the Bahamas` spending was Bermuda, which shelled out $9,918,181.11 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007 and $12,059,959.67 for the six month period ending December 31, 2007.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism was right behind, spending $7,227,179.61 for the six-month period ending March 31, 2007 and another $6,465,052.01 on advertising and public relations services for the six-month period ending September 30, 2007.

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board reported spending of $824,784.10 for the period ending October 31, 2007 while  Barbados reported spending for 2007 to the tune of  $3,273,769.14. The St. Lucia Tourist Board said it spent $222,672.95 on expos and trade shows in 2007.

Jamaica Tourist Board did not report its tourism advertising spending but said it spent $417,948.18 for the six month period ending September 30, 2007 and $547,385.82 for the six month period ending March 31, 2007 for public relations services that included disseminating press releases to travel, trade and consumer lifestyle media and to national and regional newspapers in the United States and engaging in media relations, special events, and crisis communications.