Bahamas Property Investment Opportunities. Real Estate Bahamas.

£318,000 / $467,000 *

New Developments in the Bahamas

The 700 islands of the Bahamas form a 100,000 square mile archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida, with an estimated land area of 5,382 square miles, 206 feet at its highest. The water is beautifully clear and the climate is mostly subtropical, influenced by the Gulf Stream. Each island has its own diverse geography and culture, based on African and European influence. The Bahamas is perhaps most famous for its calypso music and the marching bands that play at funerals and weddings, as well as for its story-telling traditions. Outside New Providence Island, where the capital Nassau is located, the Out Islands specialise in crafts such as palm baskets, hats and bags for the tourists. Other tourist attractions include regattas, festivals surrounding one or more days of racing old-fashioned work boats. Other festivals include the "Pineapple Fest" in Gregory Town on Eleuthera or the "Crab Fest" on Andros.

Tourism has been strong since the 1950s, with Disney Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Holland American Cruises and Imperial Majesty Cruises coming in to New Providence and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruises and Discovery Cruises to Grand Bahama, while urban renewal projects recently launched to help impoverished urban areas provide the ideal climate for investment. The sun, sand, golf and diving mean that tourism continues to account for more than 50% of GDP, while financial services account for 15-20%. But at the first annual Globalisation and Competitiveness conference in 2006, the Minister for Tourism reported that travellers now want a fuller experience, which is fuelling a demand for family second homes and vacation homes, made easier by the availability of direct flights from major international airports.

The Bahamas enjoys the third highest per capita income in the western hemisphere. It is an independent member of the Commonwealth, with law and politics based on the UK. The Queen is the ceremonial head of state, represented by a Bahamian governor-general and the country has an elected Prime Minister who is the head of government and the leader of the party with the most seats in the elected House of Assembly. There is an appointed upper house or Senate. The party system is dominated by the centre-left Progressive Liberal Party and the centre-right Free National Movement. There is freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association and the judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

The population of just over 300,000 is an English-speaking mix of black, white, Asian & Hispanic and 80% Protestant Christian, with 70% living in Nassau. This capital city, only 290 km from Miami, boasts a busy and attractive harbour, a vibrant nightlife and a blend of traditional and colonial architecture. Nearby Paradise Island has more tourist arrivals than any other hotel property and employs over 6,000.

• Official Language: English
• Currency: Bahamian Dollar
• View Bahamas on the World Map

New Developments in the Bahamas

Bahamas Property     * currency exchange rates subject to fluctuation.