# Travel >> Destinations >> Caribbean

Overview of Tourism in the Bahamas

The Bahamas is a tourism paradise, providing vacationers with much to see and do, which in turn provides the country with a lot of revenue. A billion dollars' worth of investments in the late 1990s in the development of hotels such as Atlantis, Paradise Island and in tourism infrastructure has helped contribute to tourism's success in the Bahamas.

Employment
- The Bahamas' tourism industry provides employment for about half of the Bahamian workforce.
Numbers
- A survey conducted in the late 1990s found the Bahamas to be the most popular destination among tourists in the Caribbean. Approximately four million people visit the Bahamas each year, with about half of them being Americans.
Time Frame
- January, February and March are the most popular months for tourists to visit the Bahamas. The least popular months are September and October.
Tourism as Industry
- Tourism provides $3 million annually to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Bahamas, making it the country's largest industry. Over 400 international banks from 36 countries also contribute to the country's economy.
Vacation Homes
- The Bahama Islands is a popular place for many Americans, Asians and Europeans to purchase second, or vacation, homes. This is a direct result of the success of the Bahamas as a tourist destination.
Top Destinations in the Bahamas
- The most popular island tourists visit in the Bahamas is Paradise Island, specifically the Nassau area. Grand Bahama Island receives the second highest number of tourists, and Eleuthera Island is the third most popular island destination.