Tour and excursion operators yesterday said business volumes have returned to 70 percent of pre-COVID levels amid a strong tourism rebound.

Samantha Henfield, general manager of Tourific Rides, told Tribune Business that summer 2023 has been robust and she does not expect a drop-off in business until the traditional September low in the tourism calendar. Trade is expected to pick back up once the winter tourism season starts.

“I would say that, maybe by November, it may pick back up after we get past August. It will get slow by the end of August, going into September,” she said. “All of the tourists are definitely enjoying the tours, and it’s really a highlight for them when they come. They’re always looking for ways to get around the island, looking for fun and exciting activities, and they just ride and cruise around the island at their own leisure.”

The tour rental business is only at “70 percent now” of pre-COVID levels, Ms Henfield added. “It’s not 100 percent because we have some days which are very, very slow. Compared to 2019, we were really, really busy. Just before the pandemic, that’s when things had really slowed down for us, but we have picked up and we have gotten back into the swing of things recovering from the pandemic,” she said.

Stopover tourism numbers during the 2023 first quarter rebounded to 97 percent of pre-COVID levels, according to the Central Bank. Nelson Noels, general manager of BNB Scooter Rental and ATVs, yesterday said things are “okay for now” with tourists taking quad-scooter rides deeper and deeper into New Providence.

“Most of them are bookings not run by one company. We have at least about eight people offering ATV rentals,” Mr Noels said. “Business for us, compared to 2019, is good. It’s a lot better than the lockdowns. We can’t complain.”

There is an expectation that, within the next two weeks leading into September, the tourism industry is expected to get “really slow”. This is when the tourism season is traditionally soft.

“We expect it to die down and then come back up around November,” Mr Noels added.