By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Writer

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

FAMILY Islands are reporting high volumes of visitors over the Independence Day holiday weekend.

In Eleuthera, Robert Roberts, chief councilor of Spanish Wells. said that "plenty" of local and international visitors flocked to the island over the Independence Day holiday weekend. He said guests of all ages joined locals in the Golden Jubilee events, which included fireworks, music and climbing the slippery pole.

He said: “Oh, man, there was plenty people here this weekend. Spanish Wells was full of tourists, not only foreign tourists, but local tourists, people out of Nassau, Eleuthera, you name it, all over.

“We had a great celebration on Saturday in Lower End Park that ended with fireworks and then we had Monday starting at 11am, we did an old favourite, the slippery pole, where the children through the adults participated. Yeah, it was fun. It was good time."

Daphne DeGregory Miaoulis, president of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, said Abaco and the surrounding cays saw a large amount of international and domestic tourists over the Independence holiday weekend. She added that there was a noticeably high number of international guests to the island celebrating the local holiday.

She said: “The island was pretty busy and the cays were busy as well. It was a good mix of domestic and international tourists. I would say on the cays there was 80 percent foreign visitors and 20 percent local visitors - usually it’s the opposite for local celebrations and holidays.

“Hope Town was quite busy with visitors. Little Harbour was packed with boaters and visitors, Americans mainly. There was a family from Grand Bahama here celebrating a birthday and independence together. So, I’d say we had a good mix over the weekend.”

Ms Miaoulis noted although a large crowd endured "extreme" heat to participate in the Independence Day celebrations the high volume was not due to the festivities. Rather, she maintained many locals visited because of the extended weekend and foreign tourist arrivals are usually high this time of year.

She said: “There was extreme heat this weekend and there was a power cut, unfortunately. It was super-hot and crowded but a lot of people showed up, the police band performed and junkanoo was held.

“The traffic was not only due to the festivities; it was a long weekend and I think a lot of locals came to Abaco because of that. The tourists visited because it’s the season for them to be here, the summer is usually busy here and I think this year that’s just how things happened.”

Alberto Gilbert, manager of Gilberts Inn, Cat Island, said there are both domestic and international visitors on the island, which is unusual as the busy season for Cat Island typically runs from November to April.

He said: “It's been decent, not as much tourists as the peak months, November to April, but definitely an increase for the summer. The Western Air flight we had came in full for Independence. Foreigners are here now, which is unusual for this time of year, usually they cut off around May, but we have a lot of people here now, some Bahamians were here this weekend as well.

“There was an event in Arthur's Town on Sunday night and a beach party in New Bight at the regatta site yesterday. We had a motorcade yesterday and that went well also.”