Travel Guide for Bahamas

Bahamas is an island country on the west bank of the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, north of Cuba and the Caribbean Sea, and located at the northernmost tip of the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies, between 72-80 degrees west longitude and 22-28 degrees north latitude. It consists of more than 700 islands and more than 2000 rocks and coral reefs, with a land area of approximately 14,000 square kilometers. The archipelago stretches like a chain from the coast of Florida in the United States to the northern coasts of Cuba and Haiti.

Although there are more than 2000 islands and reefs in the Bahamas Islands, only 30 of them can be inhabited. Many coral reefs are either too small or lack of fresh water. The main island of the archipelago is called New Providence Island. This island is not the largest among the Bahamas archipelago, but it has good comprehensive conditions and was developed early. Therefore, Nassau, the capital of the Commonwealth of Bahamas, is on this island. Tourism is a pillar industry of Pakistan's national economy. An average of 5 million tourists are received every year, and the annual revenue of tourism alone reaches more than 2 billion US dollars. The seaside pavilions of the Bahamas account for more than 50% of the GDP. There are approximately 50000 direct and indirect employees, accounting for 35% of the total labor force.

Bahamas is known as the "Bird Kingdom" in Latin America. This country has an area of only more than 13,900 square kilometers, but there are more than 200 species of birds, including more than 50,000 red cranes. It is the country with the largest number of red cranes in the world and is praised as the "Hometown of Red Cranes." The coolest season in Bahamas is from September to May of the following year, which is the best time to travel. Most of the Bahamas Islands have a mild subtropical climate. August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 24-32℃; January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of 17-25℃. The average annual temperature is 23.5℃, and the average annual precipitation is 1000 mm.

visa instructions 1. China citizens holding valid passports (including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports) can enter the Bahamas visa-free and are allowed to stay for 30 days. If it exceeds 30 days, you need to apply for a visa in advance.

2. Visa applicants must go directly to the Bahamas Embassy in China to apply for visas.

3. Groups of 5 or more people applying for visas must contact the embassy in advance to arrange an interview time.

4. Persons wishing to work in Bahamas must apply directly to the Bahamas Immigration Service by their employer in Pakistan.

5. If this is the first application, you can only obtain a one-time entry visa. If the applicant wishes to obtain a multiple entry visa, he needs to submit a written application and provide relevant supporting documents.

6. Regardless of whether the visa application is successful or not, the visa application materials will be kept in the archives of the Embassy. If the original in the submitted visa application materials needs to be returned, a corresponding copy must be prepared in the application materials.

7. Applicants can pay the visa fee using RMB cash or US dollar wire transfer. (Single-entry visa: RMB 400 or US$55; multi-entry visa: RMB 470 or US$65.)

visa application materials 1. Visa application form (the form must be written in English printed characters and can only be used in black or blue pens).

2. Valid passport (which should be valid for at least six months upon arrival in Bahamas and have at least one blank page on the passport); if you have an old passport, a used passport must be submitted.

3. Two recent color passport photos with a photo size of 45mm * 35mm. Photo requirements: front face of the head, no sunglasses, white background, clear and high-quality. The applicant's name must be written on the back of the photo.

4. A copy of the round-trip air ticket order (or ferry ticket). If you take a charter flight or charter ship, you need to provide a certificate of the date of travel with an English translation.

5. A notarized copy of personal identification certificate and certificate of no criminal record issued by the province/city where the applicant currently lives, and an English translation of those under the age of 16, tourists traveling to Pakistan on a cruise ship and holders of valid U.S., British, Canadian or Schengen visas are not required).

6. Supporting documents of current job and occupation must include: company type, establishment date, number of employees, etc. If the applicant is a self-employed person, a notarized copy of the business license/business registration certificate is required.

7. Monthly income certificate or bank transaction records issued by the bank for the past two years, as well as a notarized English translation.

8. Household registration booklet, and notarized English translations of all pages.

9. If you are invited to Pakistan, you need to provide an invitation letter and a notarized English translation.

10. If applying for a work permit or residence permit, the following materials must also be submitted: (1) A certificate from the sponsor, including the applicant's address in Pakistan, the purpose of going to Pakistan, and the method of payment for the applicant's travel expenses.

(2) A copy of the sponsor's passport/work permit/residence permit.

(3) A copy of the guarantor's business license.

Transportation Currently, my country and Bahamas have not opened direct flights. From the country to Bahamas, you can fly to the United States first, arrive at California on the West Coast or any city on the East Coast, and then fly to Bahamas. Other reference routes are Beijing-London-Nassau or Beijing-Paris-Cuba-Nassau.

Food and Drink seafood is the main raw material of Bahamas cuisine. The crayfish, a specialty of Bahamas, is a claw-free and spiny seafood that can be used to roast, chop or make into salads. The difference between Bahamas cuisine and the cooking style of the West Indies is that it is influenced by southern American cuisine. It uses local meat and other local products as raw materials. It is somewhat spicy and has a very special flavor. A very representative dish is fish and corn meal. On the island of Bahamas, both spirits and soft drinks have their own specialty varieties, and each bar has its own unique signature concocted drink. The Kalic wine here is light yellow all over. After being refrigerated and drinking, it can cool down and bring you cool and comfortable enjoyment. The sports drink in Bahamas is coconut water mixed with a small amount of sweet milk and gin. There is also a drink called "Change the Flavor", which is made from the local specialty lime. People who have tasted it say it tastes better than any other orange drink.

Shopping Bahamas is a world-famous tourist attraction. Food and daily necessities are mainly imported, so the overall price level is very high. However, various foods and daily necessities are sold in the domestic market of Bahamas. When you are in Bahamas, you might want to buy some handicrafts at the straw market, where you can find a series of exquisite hand-woven mats, hats and baskets. There are also various types of knitwear, jewelry, wood carving handicrafts and guava. Of course, one of the joys of shopping here also includes dealing with local merchants, picking up the handicrafts they produce and make, and bargaining with them with great interest. In addition, Bahamas people have been using herbal medicines for many years. In the Bahamas, there are about 100 plant species that can be used as medicines. For example, aloe vera is a well-known good medicine for treating burns, nourishing nutrients, and relaxing muscles and activating collaterals. Other plants also have medicinal value, such as linden tree, crab grass, fig leaves, hibiscus leaves, pond shrubs, sailor flowers, arunna leaves, Spanish sage and white sage.

Festival Events Bahamas residents love music very much. The rhythm of black Africa, Caribbean Kalisso, British folk songs, and Gombe music unique to Bahamas echo across these islands. Accompanied by the dense beat of drums, Gombe music produces the crisp sound of Gomba, which dates back to the slavery era, when people were playing it while telling stories and dancing.

The Jankajannu Carnival is a unique festival in Bahamas and is held annually on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). The carnival parade team is divided into multiple groups, each group has a different theme. Their costumes, dances and music should reflect the theme of the group. The various musical instruments of the parade, including sheepskin drums, bells, whistles and trumpets, made various sounds intertwined and made it very lively. When the procession took to the streets of Nassau to begin the parade, the lively dance and music performances aroused the enthusiasm of the audience, and they began to dance.

taboos and etiquette The names of Bahamas people are the same as those of Europe and the United States, that is, the first name comes and the last name comes. Blacks have been culturally assimilated by whites, so names are no exception. People shake hands when they meet, calling men gentlemen and ladies madam and miss. As early as the 1880s, blacks were largely Christians, and people strictly followed the rules of their beliefs. In business etiquette in Bahamas, it is advisable to wear a suit when visiting government offices. At other times, wear long pants, a shirt, and a tie.

Warm reminder that tourists must understand the country's general laws when visiting Pakistan to avoid conflicts with the authorities. The government will impose severe penalties on drug and drug traffickers in Pakistan. Violators will not only be fined high amounts, but will also be jailed for long sentences.

In addition, tourists should not let strangers into hotel rooms; not expose large amounts of cash in public; not go to remote places alone; not drink alcoholic beverages inexorably; and not be tempted by vendors to leave densely populated business areas.

Ask the hotel manager or passenger information center about public transportation conditions in your area. If you want to meet someone you have never met, please wait in the hotel lobby. Be cautious about those who call themselves tour guides and offer to take you around the city.

In the event of an emergency, passengers should place the telephone numbers of hospitals, police stations, and embassies in Pakistan in a place that is easier to find. Tourists from China should prepare necessary information in English so that they can get help quickly in case of an emergency.