The Bahamas reported a whopping 18 percent surge in stopover visitors in the first quarter of 2018, the fastest rate of growth in the region.

That was announced by Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar during a keynote presentation at Caribbean Week in New York.

According to D’Aguilar, the 18 percent rise meant an extra 63,000 visitors in the period.

“We’re very bullish on 2018,” said D’Aguilar, who is concluding his term as the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

That’s due to a number of factors, from new airlift from carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue (and more on the way from airlines including Delta) and the finally-complete opening of the 2,300 room Baha Mar megaresort.

The Baha Mar recently debuted the final phase of its development, the new Rosewood Baha Mar, at the end of last month.

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