Experience Bahamas culture first hand at The Out Islands of the Bahamas summer family festivals

From Junkanoo cultural festivals to Regatta and Heritage fests, plan your summer vacation with the MyOutIsland.com’s festival and events guide.

Sandy beaches. Blue skies. Perfect weather. If these aren’t enough reasons to visit The Out Islands of the Bahamas this summer, how about a chance to experience real Bahamian culture? From Junkanoo cultural festivals to heritage fests, plan your next Bahamas vacation around our festival and events guide.

Abaco Junkanoo Summer Festival, June 8 – July 6, 2007
This Junkanoo cultural festival provides a glimpse inside Bahamas culture, featuring native music, food & drink, dance and calypso bands, arts and crafts, junkanoo parades and the Bahamas Police marching and pop bands. It’s a Bahamian street festival that captures several elements of Bahamas culture on a single stage for a dramatic experience. Authentic Bahamian cultural encounters: native music, food, dance, and arts and crafts are presented. For more information and an Abaco festival and events guide, contact the Abaco Tourist Office (242) 367-3067.

Exuma Junkanoo Summer Festival, June 9 - July14, 2007
This annual event will be held in conjunction with the Independent Fish Fry Committee. The event will be held for six Saturdays beginning June 9, through July 14, 2007. The festival is based on all things Bahamian. Great emphasis is placed on culture, heritage, and Bahamian entertainment. Locally grown fruits and vegetables, pastries, food, games, and old fashioned competitions incorporate the essence of the festival. For more information and an Exuma festival and events guide, contact Exuma Tourist Office (242) 336-2430.

Bimini Independence Festival, June 30 and July 2, 2007
During this time, natives and visitors come together with Bahamian food, music, and fun, celebrating Bahamian and American Independence. For more information and a Bimini festival and events guide, contact the Bimini Tourist Office (242) 347-3529.

Acklins Regatta & Heritage Festival, August 2-6, 2007
This sailing regatta & signature heritage festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism to showcase local Bahamas culture, arts, and crafts. Live entertainment, Bahamian artists and lots of food and drinks can be found. For more information, contact Doramae Wright (242) 328-8322.

The Out Islands of the Bahamas include the Abacos, Acklins, Andros, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, The Exumas, and Long island. Each island is home to private and government airports. For private pilots seeking to fly in the Bahamas, the Out Islands offer simple procedures, three FBOs, and an array of complete private pilot packages from many resorts. To learn more about The Out Islands of the Bahamas, please visit http://www.MyOutIslands.com or call 1-800-OUT-ISLANDS today.

Ministry of Tourism Plans to Communicate Compelling Reasons for Vacationers to Choose The Bahamas

In a recent article on Bahamas tourism, Director General of Tourism Vernice Walkine said, "We must employ all of our available resources to meet our objectives as creating the absolutely best possible visitor experience for our guests remains our prime objective."

She added that promotion would continue at the core of the Ministry of Tourism’s marketing plan. "Once the Ministry of Tourism brings the people here, it is going to be up to each and every Bahamian to make sure that they so enjoy themselves, that they would not only want to return, but would also encourage others to experience ‘der Bahamian ting’.”

Destination weddings, as well as positioning The Bahamas as convenient and attractive for all types of meetings and conferences was also key. Emphasis will be placed on the creation of new and exciting tours, which will tell the stories of the islands of The Bahamas and Bahamians, she said. The Ministry of Tourism will also place emphasis on the fostering of unique Bahamian themes in local restaurants.

It's Caribbean Week in New York!

The Islands Of The Bahamas celebrated Bahamian culture during Caribbean Week 2007, by sharing aspects of Bahamian cuisine, entertainment, and heritage with residents and visitors in New York City. During the week of events, hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Director General of Tourism, Vernice Walkine, and Deputy Director General, Ellison Thompson, took part in various Caribbean Week workshops, meetings and events that brought together tourism ministers, tourism directors, and city and state officials from across the Caribbean.

During the Caribbean Fair and Vacation Mart, guests were exposed to destination wedding experiences and cultural characteristics of The Bahamas including live straw purse weaving and chances to win wedding prizes. Two lucky couples, who were married at the event, received wedding bands from a Bahamian jeweler.

Bahamas Travel Passport Update

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced June 8, 2007 that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (of which the Bahamas are considered part for these purposes), and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

Visitors to The Islands Of The Bahamas who are pending passports will need to show valid photo ID and official proof of application (passport status notice downloaded from the State Department Web site at http://travel.state.gov/) through Sept. 30, 2007 to travel by air back to the United States.

Bahamasair Experiences Revenue Growth, But Still Losing Money

According to the Minister of State for Tourism and Aviation, Branville McCartney, the Bahamas' national flag air carrier, Bahamasair, has experienced several years of revenue growth, but the airline's expenses have grown even more, causing it to continue to lose money.

Since the 9/11 attacks in the US, the airline industry has been under tremendous pressure, particularly with the increase in the cost of security and the increase in the cost of fuel. In fact, according to Mr. McCartney, the airline’s management has a "Herculean" task in trying to reduce expenses. In 2006, the airline lost $20 million, and has budgeted to lose $16 million for 2007, a trend in the right direction.

Free Diving History in the Bahamas!

Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island, Bahamas, the spot where free diving history happened last month, attracts Bahamas diving vacationers from all over as the world's deepest known ocean blue hole and second largest underwater chamber.

On April 11, 2007, with a dive time of 3’09” and without the assistance of fins, ropes or weight belts, William Trubridge reached an unassisted free dive depth of 82 meters at Dean’s Blue. Two days prior, Trubridge made free diving history by reaching 81 meters, shaving a meter off the previous record set by Czech diver Martin Stepanek in 2005. The 27 year-old from New Zealand is now known as the man the holds the new world record for free diving.

Dean's Blue Hole, plunging 663 feet into the ocean floor, is the world's deepest blue hole and the second largest underwater chamber. Lying just offshore of Long Island, Bahamas, Dean’s attracts Bahamas diving vacationers worldwide. On a clear day, with the sun shining straight into the hole, it is like diving in an immense underwater cathedral. Dean’s, harboring all kinds of tropical reef fish, is a diver’s dream offering the most amazing diving experience to those seeking a Bahamas diving vacation.

Learn more about The Bahama Out Islands, Dean's Blue Hole and William Trubridge.