By the Caribbean Journal staff

With 700 islands and cays in The Bahamas, it’s hard to choose a single destination.

But more and more travelers are increasingly looking to choose the mini-archipelago of Abaco, according to a new update from Bahamas tourism officials.

Abaco is seeing what officials are calling “significant growth” in tourism arrival numbers, so much so that all hotels in Marsh Harbour and Hope Town — which typically close from August to November, are open right now.

“Hotel closures for the fall in Abaco are at a minimal this year. The hotels in Hope Town and Marsh Harbour will remain open,” said Wynsome Ferguson, manager of the Abaco Tourist Office. “Also, over the past several years, we have seen a significant growth in our tourism arrival numbers which has resulted in a continuous booming tourism season for hoteliers and industry partners on the island.”

It’s another strong step for the Out Islands of The Bahamas, which are continuing to position themselves as a major destination beyond the typical hub of Nassau and Paradise Island.

“We are pleased with the recent results and we anticipate a continued upward trend that will positively reflect the tremendous effort we place into our marketing program,” said Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar. “The Bahamas is a magnificent place to visit and we’re happy to see that travelers are still choosing our home as their destination of choice.”