Bahamas

Out Islands offer pilots cash credit

Private pilots who fly to the Out Islands of the Bahamas and stay at a participating hotel for four nights can pocket up to $300 in instant savings in a promotion sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation and the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board.

The offer is good for travel through June 30, 2011, but pilots must book their stays by Feb. 9. A full listing of participating islands, hotels, and other details are available online.

The board hopes the promotion will encourage private pilots to fly beyond the more familiar islands of Exuma, Abaco, and Eleuthera, and explore islands they haven’t visited before. Flights to Nassau and Grand Bahama are not eligible. The archipelago includes 700 islands and cays.

In 2009, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism stepped up its marketing efforts to private pilots. Recently a Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association group of 42 aircraft flew to Abaco, and about 50 general aviation aircraft took part in the Caribbean Air Challenge of the Governor General’s International Air Rally.

—Mike Collins