Survey Gives The Islands Of The Bahamas Top Honors As A Retirement Destination

Januarys survey on The Bahamas as a retirement destination gets top billing from visitors to The Bahamas Report website

(PRWEB) February 6, 2004 --Judging from The Bahamas Reports January survey, the once celebrated Bahamas Ministry of Tourism catch phrase...Its Better In The Bahamas...may be just the conduit in understanding why many see the Islands Of The Bahamas as a unique retirement option.

Posing this question in last month's survey in The Bahamas Report: Do you see The Bahamas as a retirement destination? - a whopping 68% of those responding gave a -- Thumbs Up - that the Islands of The Bahamas are indeed an ideal retirement setting. And even if theyre not yet sold on the idea as the majority, 25% of the survey respondents also gave a Thumbs-up (at least half way) voting POSSIBLY instead of NO. (Go to www.TheBahamasReport.com and click on Survey.)

While the survey question was intended for an instantaneous gut response, there are (at least) seven good reasons why the survey question generated such a lofty response in the affirmative.

PROXIMITY -- What is the one thing retirees generally have in common? If you answered 'grandchildren, youre absolutely right. While they enjoy the seclusion of their retirement routine, grandparents (nonetheless) want to be able to return to familiar grounds for those annual occasions when theres need to be with family. As The Bahamas is just a stones throw from the U. S. Mainland, for example, its like having your cake and eating it too. No other Caribbean destination can make that claim.

CLIMATE -- The Bahamas has a semi-tropical maritime climate that has to be experienced before you can truly appreciate its distinctiveness. Picture this: On an evening in January or February youre walking a beach on the Island of Exuma. The temperature is 75 degrees, which is the average temperature during the winter months of November -- March. About 2 ½ hours away by jet is New York City where the temperature is typically between 15 -- 20 degrees. Get the picture? Now, tell me, where would you really wish to be between January and March?

OPTIONS -- When all is said and done, perhaps the one attribute that is truly unique about The Bahamas is - Where To Retire. The Bahamas is not a One Island Nation-State like other popular Caribbean destinations. Instead, its a Nation-State of 700 Islands with some 2,000 Islets and Cays that extend over an area of around 100,000 square miles. So the possibilities of where to retire are unlimited.

Each Island is unique with its own peculiarities as a retirement setting. Here are some Islands to scout around as possible retirement sites: Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Islands, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Nassau, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador and Spanish Wells, to name a few.

LANGUAGE -- You cant beat living in a country where communication is the least of your concern. Bahamians are English speaking due largely to their British heritage. And with tourism being the major method of foreign exchange, Americans and Canadians alike (for example) are no strangers to The Bahamas.

CURRENCY -- For a little over thirty years now (since February 1973) the Bahamian dollar has been on par with the U.S. dollar, and both currencies are accepted throughout the Bahamas.

STABILITY -- With a long history of peaceful constitutional change, the Bahamas has enjoyed almost three hundred years as a Parliamentary Democracy. The economy is relatively open with a minimum of taxation and regulation. With a GDP per head of around B$12,600, the Islands of The Bahamas is considered one of the most well off economies in the Caribbean Region. General elections are held every five years in an orderly and transparent fashion.

FUN -- For many of today's retirees or soon-to-be retirees, retirement is not synonymous with idleness or 'giving up work as we know it conventionally. Whether its about boating, golfing, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, diving ---- whatever, The Bahamas is still a favorite destination for some good-old-fun all year-round. After all, why retire if you cant have fun?

Also, and for sometime now, the Government of The Bahamas has been very active in promoting the Islands as the ideal location in the Caribbean to acquire a second home. To this end, several legislative incentives are now in place to attract investors or retirees interested in investing and or relocating to the Islands of The Bahamas.

One such incentive that came into affect (1997) is the Family Islands Development Encouragement Act. This piece of legislation provides for the duty-free importation of construction materials for new construction and/or refurbishment of homes and hotel developments on certain islands. (Send an email to Editor@TheBahamasReport.com and well put you in touch with those in the government who can answer all your questions.)

So...it was not surprising to see such a response to The Bahamas Reports January survey. After all, and as they say...Its (Still) Better In The Bahamas.

http://www.thebahamasreport.com/public/survey_results.cfm?surveyID=7 Click here to view last month's survey.
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