Information and Tourism
Squeaky white beaches, warm Caribbean water and a respectable amount of protected natural area makes the island of Grand Bahama one of the most popular holiday retreats in the Western Hemisphere. Providing the urban scene are the modern planned cities of Freeport and Lucaya, with their luxury resorts, busy nightlife and attractive dining and shopping options.
Tourism is the engine of life on Grand Bahama, which at just 80 km / 50 miles from Florida receives a steady flow of visitors all year round. Tourist information about this classy island destination can be found at the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board inside the Freeport Fidelity Financial Centre or at one of its three smaller booths – at the airport, Lucayan Harbour or in the Port Lucaya Marketplace. The city of Freeport is known in the Bahamas as something of a financial centre, with its organised infrastructure and technology businesses. Tourism arrived in a big way during the 1970s, when the Bahamas gained the independence and neighbouring beach resorts began to boom. The Carribbean beaches surrounding Freeport and Lucaya are typically tropical in their appearance. In Slot Lucaya are a number of appealing seashores, with the most well-known including both Lucayan Beach and Silver Point.
The Bahamian seashores encircling Freeport present a number of opportunities for those enjoying a holiday. Scuba diving and snorkelling around Grand Bahama have never been more popular, with nearby reefs such as the East End Paradise coral gardens being connected by regular dive trips from Interface Lucaya. Pleasure cruises around the coastline also appeal to tourists, with glass- bottom boats providing an interesting view of the sealife beneath. Other noteworthy beaches around the city include those of Barbary, Churchill, Fortune, Gold Rock, Taino and Xanadu. In general, if you head towards McLean’s Town or Sanctuary Bay, you are likely to find somewhere pleasant to sunbathe, swim and relax. The adjacent town of Port Lucaya is where much of the action happens on the island, using its bustling marketplace and plentiful shops, bars and entertainment. Port Lucaya is the place to come in the event that you fancy trying your hand at parasailing or perhaps jet-skiing, while for something with a little more culture under its belt, the regular shows staged at the Freeport Regency Theatre may be of interest. If you prefer to relax amidst enjoyable green surroundings, then consider either the Garden of the Groves or the rather more freeform Rand Nature Centre, where the headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust resides.
The museum scene in Freeport is pretty much nonexistent, although there are some good galleries on hand, with information about local artists from throughout the Bahamas and beyond. At the Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar, galleries specialise in the exotic and Caribbean, with paintings, prints and photos becoming available for purchase in reasonable prices. At the International Bazaar, the fragrance of the Perfume Factory may well attract your attention, with visitors being able to mix up their very own blend of scents in the onsite laboratory.
Freeport has little history to speak of, with a lot of its wealth being derived from the purchasing and re-selling of oil to the USA. The most obvious landmarks are those condos and resort towers built in recent years to tap into the increasing tourism market. Particularly impressive is the giant International Bazaar shopping complex and its endless stores. Almost next-door, the Straw Market offers something far more traditional and Carribbean in character. When the sun begins to set, the Casino at Bahamia and the Margarita Villa Sand Bar are two of the most exciting establishments worth checking out in this part of Grand Bahama.
