The Tribune

THE Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas has met executives from Baha Mar, the $3.5bn resort due to open in December.

Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s chairman and chief executive officer, president Tom Dunlap, and Robert Sands, the senior vice-president of administration and external affairs, met Ambassador Yuan Guisen and discussed airlift from mainland China, outreach to potential visitors, and raising awareness among travel agents and consumers of the ease of travel between the two countries.

The discussion followed the announcement last December of a Bahamian-China visa accord, which allows mutual 30-day access to Bahamian and Chinese passport holders without requiring a visa.

“Our ties with China will be key in helping to diversify the Bahamas’ global tourism base,” Mr Izmirlian said.

“We’re grateful for the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to further develop relations between our countries.

“It’s particularly important to Baha Mar, which stands to benefit by providing a unique travel experience - an authentic Bahamian resort offering the full complement of luxury accommodations, golf, casino gaming, spa treatments and access to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.”

China’s citizens have become highly influential global travellers, buoyed by the country’s recent economic growth. In 2012, Chinese became the world’s top international tourism spenders, with 83 million people spending $102bn on worldwide travel.