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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: The Bahamas Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Nassau, released July 1999 Note*

IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business travelers to The Bahamas seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Nassau officials should contact the Commercial Section in advance. The Commercial Section can be reached by telephone at (242)322-1181 or by fax at (242)328-3495.

Business Customs: The national language of The Bahamas is English, sometimes spoken with a distinctive local accent and the use of colorful local expressions. Due to the proximity of The Bahamas to the U.S. and the extensive familiarity of most Bahamians with Americans and American culture, business customs tend to be similar to those in the United States. Business dress is more formal in The Bahamas than elsewhere in the Caribbean or in Florida; a business suit and tie is recommended for men and conservative business dress for women. Business attire generally follows the standards of the Northeastern United States. Bahamians shake hands upon meeting, sometimes exchange business cards, and address first-time business acquaintances by their last names. Conversations generally move to a first name basis a bit more slowly than in the United States. Firm appointments for business meetings are advisable. Although Bahamians are not punctual for meetings, foreign visitors should be punctual.

In addition, The Bahamas is very much a consensus-driven society, in which people often disguise personal feelings beneath a surface cordiality. Business meetings in The Bahamas tend to be very pleasant and Bahamians often end a meeting with an air of agreement even if real differences remain. Thus, Bahamian partners may still retain some reservations even after meetings that ended with firm handshakes and pleasantries. Bahamians at the middle levels of business or Government must often gain final approval from more senior officials.

Bahamian businesses tend to operate on a tighter financial margin than their American counterparts, often juggling financing from one commitment to another. Therefore, for initial or large sales, a businessman should require a deposit against future payment for goods or services delivered, and expect that some delays may occur with subsequent payments.

Business lunches are common in The Bahamas, and invitations to discuss matters over lunch in a quiet restaurant are common practice. Bahamians tend not to drink very much at business lunches and usually expect the lunch to last between an hour and an hour-and-a-half. Business dinners are relatively rare, and Bahamians do not often invite new acquaintances to their homes. When they do so, dinners at the homes of well-to-do Bahamians tend to be elaborate and formal affairs, at which business attire for men and conservative evening wear for women is appropriate. A small gift for the hostess, such as flowers, and a follow-up thank you note are appropriate acknowledgments.

Acceptable topics of conversation include: sports; the tourist business; the beauty of the islands; the weather; and unique or distinctive aspects of Bahamian culture such as the local cuisine, junkanoo, local music, art, architecture, and history. While Bahamians are comfortable with discussing most topics, drug trafficking and race relations are sensitive topics and should be avoided during initial contacts.

Since much of Bahamian social life revolves around church, an invitation to a church service is a sign of personal respect and affection. Many churches in The Bahamas have proud traditions of gospel choir singing, and church services can be quite lively. Dress at church services is usually formal with conservative business suits for men and colorful, sometimes elaborate dresses for women.

Travel Information and Visas: American citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter The Bahamas, but proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or voter registration card accompanied by a photo ID is required, as well as a return ticket to the United States. American citizens traveling to The Bahamas or any area where they may have some concern about local conditions can contact the State Department's Citizens Emergency Center at tel. (202) 647-5225 for the most up-to-date information.

Bahamian Holidays:

-- New Year's Day (January 1)
-- Good Friday (variable)
-- Easter Monday (variable)
-- Whit Monday (seven weeks after Easter)
-- Bahamian Labor Day (first Monday in June)
-- Independence Day (July 10)
-- Emancipation Day (first Monday in August)
-- Discovery Day (October 12)
-- Christmas Day (December 25)
-- Boxing Day (December 26)

Holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday are usually observed on the following Monday. Persons present in The Bahamas on the night of December 25-26 or December 31-January 1 can enjoy a unique cultural experience by purchasing tickets to the annual Junkanoo Parade in downtown Nassau, a carnival similar to Mardi Gras of which Bahamians are justly proud.

Business Infrastructure: Both Nassau and Freeport boast a wide variety of excellent hotels and resorts. Although Bahamian hotels are more used to catering to the vacationer rather than the business traveler, many large hotels have business centers. Even hotels without such centers will be happy to arrange for fax transmissions, office and conference facilities, and other business services. Electricity is 110 v, 60 HZ (U.S. standard). Taxis are plentiful near hotels and downtown, and radio taxi services are available. Some taxi drivers are willing, for a prearranged fee, to spend the entire day with a single customer. Rental cars are also available, but they are more expensive than the American norm. Bahamians drive on the left side of the road, as in Great Britain, even though most cars in The Bahamas are imported from or through the United States and have left-hand drive (U.S. standard). Nassau has two large, hospitals, and there is one in Freeport; Nassau's privately owned Doctors Hospital is widely regarded as the best medical facility in The Bahamas. No special health precautions or vaccinations are necessary. Tap water is potable but brackish; most Bahamians drink one of the locally produced brands of bottled water. As major resorts, both Nassau and Freeport have a wide variety of restaurants ranging from local franchises of American fast-food chains to expensive five-star gourmet places. Local cuisine tends to favor freshly caught seafood, particularly using grouper, lobster (locally known as "crawfish"), and conch (a Caribbean shellfish), but American and ethnic cuisine such as Chinese and Italian are also available.

Temporary Entry of Goods: Personal effects, a limited amount of alcoholic beverages, and other articles up to a value of $100 can be brought into The Bahamas duty-free by bona fide visitors. Exhibit materials, salesmen's samples, photographic and cinematographic equipment belonging to members of the press and special tools for repair work may be imported on a temporary basis, but a bond or deposit may be required. Questions should be referred to the Comptroller of Customs, P.O. Box N-155, Nassau, The Bahamas, tel. (242) 326-4401.