By: Gina Matthews
Hon Kenneth Bryan and senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Ports (MOTP) will be attending the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference taking place in Florida from April 8th to 11th, 2024.
Seatrade Cruise Global is the largest cruise event globally, and attracts attendees from over 120 countries, including 300 journalists. During the four-day conference, industry leaders, influencers, and high-level executives will converge in Miami and explore the latest trends and innovations in the cruise industry.
On Tuesday April 9th, Minister Bryan is scheduled to participate in a Ministerial panel discussion focusing on the Caribbean cruise sector. The session, moderated by the renowned Michele Paige, CEO of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), will also feature government officials representing St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and both the British and US Virgin Islands. As such, this panel discussion is expected to offer valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the Caribbean cruise market.
Commenting on the significance of attending the Seatrade Global Conference, Minister Bryan said, “As Minister of Tourism, I am keenly aware of the profound impact that the cruise sector has on the micro and small Caymanian businesses who rely solely on cruise passenger visitation to support themselves and their families. This is why I have committed to leveraging every opportunity to engage with cruise lines and advocate for increased cruise calls and higher spending passengers. Despite our cruise visitation not yet having reached pre-pandemic levels, it remains imperative that we maintain strong business relationships with cruise line executives. Attending Seatrade is crucial in this endeavour, as it allows us to forge valuable partnerships and explore avenues to grow the industry.
Representatives from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism will also be in attendance actively engaging with attendees throughout the event and managing the destination’s exhibition booth. Industry stakeholders from various sectors, including the Cayman Islands National Attractions Authority (CINAA) and the Cayman Islands Turtle Centre will also be present to promote their attractions to cruise line itinerary planners.
Other notable highlights of the conference include the State of the Global Cruise Industry keynote presentation and round table discussions with CEOs from some of the world’s largest cruise organisations. This year will include topics such as market demand forecasts for 2024 and beyond, discussions on digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, (AI), as well as the impact of geopolitical issues on cruising.
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