Bahamas Spreads the Love to Canadians

2016 is more than just the Year of Romance for the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is also spreading the love with the launch of the 16 Weddings Invitation, a contest for Canadian couples to win 16 weddings in the destination to be held across 16 different locations on Nov. 16, 2016.

“This is a niche market that lends itself perfectly to The Bahamas,” Joy Jibrilu, director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, told Press Today at a Toronto launch event yesterday (Feb. 18). “If you are a city type of person, Nassau, Paradise Island lends itself to that. If you want something small and quant and eco-touristy, our southern islands lend itself, so it allows us to showcase the very best of who we are and what we are, while you have your dream wedding.”

The initiative, which was previously offered in Great Britain and the US, invites participants to share their love story, upload photos and videos, engage on social media, get creative and incorporate the destination’s offerings into their plans to tie the knot on one of its islands.

Jibrilu says the $110-million destination wedding industry is very important to the local economy.

“It’s so important the impact that it has on our economy because you have to realize people engage with local florists, they engage with someone to make their cake, someone to officiate the weddings, someone to set up the wedding,” she says. “This is a very big industry for The Bahamas and it’s very important.”

The contest closes on June 10, after which time semi-finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges and posted online for the public to vote on.

Winners will be announced on June 16.