(Eleuthera, Bahamas) Total Foreign Air arrivals into Eleuthera through June 2013 were up by 0.5% compared to the same period in 2012, according to statistics published by the Ministry of Tourism, but this was exclusively due to North Eleuthera. The information published, was derived from a manual immigration card count and excluded crews, diplomatic personnel and returning residents. Also visitors, who entered originally at an airport outside of Eleuthera but travelled over on one of the several commuter airlines serving the island or on Boat Ferries, were counted for their first port of entry into the country and not included in this number.
Governor’s Harbour would have to see many more like this chartered 737 jet which landed there in December of 2012, to reverse the downward trend seen in foreign arrivals at this airport.
The total number of such visitors to arrive at any of the three international airports (North Eleuthera, Governor ‘s Harbour and Rock Sound airports) this year, up to June 2013, was 20,486.
The vast majority, 17,243 passengers, arrived at the North Eleuthera airport which saw a 7.8% increase over the same period in 2012.
The numbers for the Governor‘s Harbour and Rock Sound airports were far less rosy.
Governor’s Harbour, Central Eleuthera, saw an 18.9% decrease in visitor numbers with 2,685 visitors in the first six months of the year compared to 3,310 during the same period in 2012.
The decrease in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera for 2013 has been even more significant than what was seen in Governor’s Harbour. During the first six months of 2012, a total of 1,070 visitors arrived at that airport. During the same period in 2013, however, the number of visitors plummeted by almost 50% (47.9%) to 558.
Current traffic seen in passing the airports reflect this reality, with major airlines such as, American Airlines, Silver Airways (Code Share with United Airlines) and The Cove Express (new) flying regularly into the North Eleuthera airport. The airport is often lined with private planes with passengers most often destined for Harbour Island.
American Eagle on the runway at the North Eleuthera Airport (ELH). The airline suspended flights into the Governor’s Harbour airport (GHB) in March of 2010.
Rock Sound International Airport (RSD)
Much less foreign traffic is seen at the Governor’s Harbour and Rock Sound airports.
The lack of airlift into these airports has been a subject of discussion by elected officials and organizations such as the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce, but almost no positive change has occurred in recent years.
South Eleuthera officially receives tens of thousands of cruise visitors, but they are, for the most part, shuttled to a fenced in beach and only small numbers, ever go against the cruise ship’s advice and venture beyond the fence to experience this stunningly beautiful part of this most tranquil island.