Bahamas Prime Minister Praises Luxury Resort Baha Mar

Launching a New Era of Friendly Tourism with China

Beijing, Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie has praised the upcoming luxury resort Baha Mar as a flagship project ushering in a new era of friendly tourism with China.

Royal Blue Golf Club

Prime Minister Christie undertook a three-day official visit to Beijing last week aimed at strengthening ties between the Bahamas and China. He noted that visa-free travel for Chinese tourists, along with streamlined air transport aimed ultimately at establishing direct flights, are both intended to boost tourism development between the two countries.

Leading this historic tourism development is the beachfront luxury resort Baha Mar. Financed through debt funding from the Export-Import Bank of China and constructed by China Construction America (CCA), a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, this groundbreaking project brings together premier boutique hotel brands such as Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Grand Hyatt, SLS LUX, as well as the Las Vegas-style Baha Mar Casino & Hotel.^TMThe resort is further enhanced by a world-class ESPA spa and a TPC-standard Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

Baha Mar Casino & Hotel - Luxury Room

Baha Mar also features an oversized convention center with a 2,000-seat entertainment venue. In addition, there are over 40 restaurants, bars, and clubs, global luxury designer boutiques and local artisan shops, art galleries showcasing Bahamian art, meticulously landscaped beaches and pool experiences including a beachfront oasis highlighting native Bahamian flora and fauna. The resort is scheduled to open on March 27, 2015, on New Providence Island, just a 10-minute drive from Nassau’s newly upgraded Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Yi Xia, Chairman and CEO of Baha Mar Resort (Sarkis Izmirlian) said: "China is the fastest-growing international tourism market in the world, and Chinese travelers are curious about overseas destinations. The Bahamas is poised to become a preferred destination for Chinese tourists. Baha Mar Resort captures this trend by positioning itself as China-friendly, featuring globally renowned resort brands, highly trained staff, and specially curated experiences for Chinese visitors to meet the expectations of discerning travelers. We are currently working with our partners in China's tourism industry to further enhance understanding of the Bahamas among the Chinese people, making it clear that the Bahamas is a friendly, safe destination with pristine natural environments and unspoiled beauty."

Committed to strengthening ties with China, in November 2015, Baha Mar Resort will collaborate with the Latin Trade Group to co-host the inaugural Sino-Americas Summit, often referred to as the Davos of the Americas. The summit will bring together political and business leaders from China, Latin America, and the Caribbean to explore economic growth and development potential in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and agribusiness.

During his visit to China, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie stated that the construction of Baha Mar Resort has created thousands of jobs for locals, significantly mitigating the negative impact of the global financial crisis on employment in the region. The grand opening of Baha Mar Resort on March 27, 2015, will generate more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, injecting new momentum into tourism, the backbone of the Bahamian economy.

Prime Minister Christie added: "China and the Bahamas share similar positions on many international and regional issues. Economically, both countries have recognized that mutual benefits can be achieved through cooperation, equality, and reciprocity across a wide range of areas."

He also pointed out that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is one of only four countries in the world that have a mutual visa waiver agreement with China. The two countries established diplomatic relations on May 23, 1997, and their relationship has grown increasingly strong since then..

TheBahamas is made up of over 700 islands and more than 100,000 square miles of coral reefs. This island nation, located just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, USA, is an ecological oasis, boasting some of the clearest waters on Earth, as well as some of the most fascinating, exotic, and mysterious natural wonders. -- From the world’s deepest blue hole to the third-largest barrier reef, miles of pink-sand beaches, and numerous nature reserves, visitors can enjoy a truly unique diving experience.

The vacation experience here includes a wide range of water sports such as kiteboarding, kayaking, surfing, island-hopping cruises, dolphin watching, and even possible shark encounters. The beauty of the Bahamas goes far beyond these extraordinary natural wonders, encompassing the warm hospitality of the Bahamian people. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has even launched a free “People-To-People Experience,” where Chinese visitors can be paired with a Bahamian tourism ambassador to explore the local culture and way of life.