Above: the Baha Mar

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The governments of the Bahamas and China have agreed to allow mutual 30-day access to Bahamian and Chinese passport holders without requiring a visa.

The agreement was signed Thursday in a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau, and is the latest cooperation between the Bahamas and China, which are partnering on the development of the Baha Mar Resort, the largest hotel project in the Caribbean.

“This is a great step forward in stimulating Chinese tourism to The Bahamas, and diversifying the country’s global tourism base,” said Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “It’s particularly exciting for Baha Mar, which will be more accessible to Chinese customers seeking a world-class integrated resort experience amid the unique beauty of the Bahamian Riviera.”

Caribbean countries have been looking to China as a potentially major source of tourists, although a number of roadblocks remain, including the length of travel. But observers think that the Baha Mar could help change that.

“The signing of the agreement will further facilitate the ever-broadening cooperation in all fields and people-to-people exchanges between China and The Bahamas,” said Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas Yuan Guisen.