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The Bahamas needs your tourist dollars: Here's where you can still visit
Lilit Marcus, CNN • Updated 10th September 2019
(CNN) — After Hurricane Dorian tore a path of destruction through the Atlantic, images and stories began to emerge from the Abacos and other Bahamian islands that had been devastated by the Category 5 storm.
As these islands begin the slow work of rebuilding, other Bahamian islands remain untouched and open for business.
Altogether, the 30 inhabited islands stretch from near Florida to near Cuba, and the southern islands of the Bahamas are generally in good shape post-Dorian, with airports, hotels and cruise terminals still ready to receive visitors.
This is good news, as about 60% of the country's revenue comes directly and indirectly from tourism.
Here's what you need to know about where you can still travel in the Bahamas.
Airports
While Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) and Leonard Thompson International Airport (MHH) in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, are closed indefinitely, these airports are all open:
-- Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau (the largest airport in the nation)
-- Exuma Airport (GGT)
-- South Bimini Airport (BIM)
-- North Eleuthera Airport (ELH)
-- Stella Maris Airport (SML) and Deadman's Cay Airport (LGI) in Long Island
-- Exuma Airport (GGT)
-- South Bimini Airport (BIM)
-- North Eleuthera Airport (ELH)
-- Stella Maris Airport (SML) and Deadman's Cay Airport (LGI) in Long Island
Cruise and ferry terminals
Visitors can still get around via water transportation. All of the following are operating:
-- Nassau ports are open and cruises are arriving daily.
-- Bahamas Ferries, which operates within the Bahamas, has resumed sailings, but passengers should check in with reservations for further information and updated schedules by calling +1 242-323-2166.
-- Balearia Caribbean sailings resumed on September 6. At present, sailings to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island are open to Bahamian residents only.
-- The Port in Grand Bahama Island is open.
-- Bahamas Ferries, which operates within the Bahamas, has resumed sailings, but passengers should check in with reservations for further information and updated schedules by calling +1 242-323-2166.
-- Balearia Caribbean sailings resumed on September 6. At present, sailings to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island are open to Bahamian residents only.
-- The Port in Grand Bahama Island is open.
Attractions
Some of the country's favorite tourist spots are doing fine, the famous swimming pigs of Exuma made it through the storm OK. Some of the others you can still see:
-- Popular resort Atlantis Paradise Island remains open and active.
-- Cathedral Cave and the other caves on Eleuthera are fine and taking bookings.
-- Dean's Blue Hole, the 663-foot-deep swimming hole off Long Island that is the second-deepest on the planet, is also still safe to visit.
-- The Hermitage at the peak of Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, one of the country's most popular hikes, is still completely open and accessible.
-- The wreck of the SS Sapona, a popular dive site off of Bimini, is still hosting visitors.
-- Cathedral Cave and the other caves on Eleuthera are fine and taking bookings.
-- Dean's Blue Hole, the 663-foot-deep swimming hole off Long Island that is the second-deepest on the planet, is also still safe to visit.
-- The Hermitage at the peak of Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, one of the country's most popular hikes, is still completely open and accessible.
-- The wreck of the SS Sapona, a popular dive site off of Bimini, is still hosting visitors.
A disclaimer, though: Some hotels in the Bahamas close for hurricane season even if the weather is fine, so make sure you double-check with specific properties before booking.
