Fresh off a new record for visitors to the Bahamas, Porter Airlines has announced new, direct flights to the island nation from Montreal.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation recently announced the nation last year welcome a record 12.5 million visitors. Visitor arrivals grew 11.4% year-over-year, surpassing 2024’s record and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 70%. This growth underscores the strength and resilience of demand across global markets.
Canada continues to emerge as one of The Bahamas’ fastest-growing markets, with year-round arrivals now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong demand from Ontario and Quebec and expanding airline service, officials said.
The Unique VIllage hotel/villa complex on Eleuthera has a terrific beach. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Further to that point, Porter Airlines today (Feb. 5) began nonstop flights between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Nassau, The Bahamas.
This marks the airline’s first Caribbean service from Montreal. The winter seasonal service operates up to three times weekly and enhances Porter’s presence in The Bahamas, complementing existing service from Toronto Pearson and Ottawa.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting two or three times over the years and always enjoy it. Nassau is fine, including Paradise Island, But I’d say my fave two visits were to the island of Eleuthera (a short ferry ride from Nassau) and to nearly deserted Long Island, which features just a couple of resorts and more solitude than a person could imagine.
FLORIDA TOURISM LOOKING FOR MORE CANADIANS
Tourism leaders in Florida are hoping to lure more Canadians to the Sunshine State.
CBS News reports Florida travel and tourism officials “are reaching out to their Canadian counterparts as the U.S. faces a travel backlash tied to the words and actions of President Donald Trump.”
The network said VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO Bryan Griffin and Carol Dover, the president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, are setting up a meeting with Canadian officials.
Anna Maria Island, Florida. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Florida last year had a slight increase in domestic and overseas visitors, but estimates show roughly 507,000 Canadians visited in the third quarter of 2025. That’s down sharply from 597,000 in the third quarter of 2024.
I understand that a number of Canadians don’t feel comfortable visiting the U.S. right now, but I’ve always been welcomed warmly in Florida, which has an amazing array of things to see and do, and dozens of fabulous places to stay.
My most recent visit was to Sarasota, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, all lively and interesting Gulf Coast destinations just south of Tampa/St. Pete. Anna Maria has lovely beaches, as does Siesta Key in Sarasota. Bradenton has wonderful nature opportunities and a wonderful, slightly wacky arts district I quite enjoyed.
Both are quite close to Dunedin, where the Toronto Blue Jays will be starting spring training in about a week. It’s one of the top places to visit in the state, with terrific food, wonderful beaches very close by, a tidy, walkable downtown, and much more.
The Gibson Inn is a fun place to stay in Apalachicola, Florida. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Here are a few of my other fave spots in Florida.
Cedar Key: A magical spot on a super-quiet island north of Tampa. This is old-time Florida at its best.
New Smyrna Beach: A fun, artsy community on the Atlantic Coast, about an hour northeast of Orlando.
Apalachicola: An attractive, vibrant town in the Florida Panhandle with quiet, offshore islands that offer deserted, white sand beaches.
Delray Beach: This has become a very popular spot on the Atlantic Coast, north of Fort Lauderdale. But it has kept its charm, and has a terrific main street.
Venice Beach: A welcoming, casual city (more like a big town) south of Sarasota, with a fine beach and a lively, strollable downtown.
