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Preserving Cayman’s Legacy Through Sustainable Community Centered Tourism

Local News 29 Jan, 2025 Follow News

The Cayman Islands currently solely rely on tender boats to transport cruise passengers from ships to shore. Proponents of constructing cruise berthing facilities argue that this limitation has led to a decline in cruise arrivals, as newer, larger ships prefer ports with direct docking capabilities. However, CPR Cayman champions a future for the Cayman Islands where sustainable tourism and community well-being take precedence over short-term economic gains.

In response to the Ministry of Tourism’s launch this week of its pro-pier referendum campaign1, with release of interviews with cruiseline executives, CPR Cayman would like to point out the following contradictory information presented:

1. Contrary to the Deputy Premier’s statement in October 2024, that with a pier, cruise ships would stay in port overnight, Carnival Executive Mr David Candib confirmed that having a pier would not change the current dynamics and their ships would not stay overnight or into the evening.

2. The Carnival Executive shared that they might consider scheduling more ships to Cayman if they were allowed to have their casinos and bars open while in harbour.

3. Ships it seems will only stay later with a pier if they are also allowed to open their casinos and bars during the additional hours in port. However, the additional economic benefits to the local economy are questionable as many cruise guests would return to their ship for pre-paid meals. Additionally, allowing gambling in our territorial waters is currently unlawful.

4. The cruiseline executives stated that George Town harbour is the preferred location for a potential pier. The Carnival Executive stated that the numerous studies of the current location showed it was an environmentally and scientifically sound location.

CPR Cayman strongly disagrees with this conclusion. Studies showed that the 2019 Verdant Isle proposal, which Carnival was a party to, would have resulted in:

a. Dredging of 22 acres of seabed;

b. Direct loss of 12 acres of coral reefs;

c. Sedimentation from dredging that would smother surrounding coral reefs, like Eden Rock, and permanently transform our now crystal-clear aquamarine waters with silt and turbidity;

d. Natural capital loss of CI$550 million over 25 years; and

e. Loss of natural coastal defences and risk of increased susceptibility of storm flooding once the natural occurring coastal coral reef defences are permanently destroyed.

5. The Carnival Executive explained that the potential future decrease in calls predicted by the Ministry of Tourism of 4.3% per year would be due to the cruiselines replacing older ships with newer mega ships that will not tender. However, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have recently announced that they are continuing to build smaller ships to be able to continue to visit more unique boutique destinations, like the Cayman Islands.

Further, data shows that higher end cruiselines like Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian cruiselines have actually increased their calls to Cayman since the overall record high year of 2019.

While overall cruise arrivals have declined, Cayman’s stayover tourism is experiencing near record highs. Data just released by the Department of Tourism shows that January to June 2024 saw the 3rd highest visitation in recorded history. While making up only 20% of headcount, stayover tourists account for 80% of tourism revenue, while also contributing less strain to our limited carrying capacity.

Cayman deserves to have complete data in order to make an informed decision on cruise berthing and all matters of national importance, however the minority Government, while continuing to push for an April 2025 referendum, has made no disclosures on plans, location, costs, environmental impacts or other key information.

CPR Cayman believes that a sustainable tourism model that invests in overnight tourism and nurtures a boutique cruise tourism sector will yield higher long-term returns for the local economy, while minimising negative impacts on our overall community well-being.

Together, we envision a Cayman that leads the Caribbean as a beacon of sustainability, where mindful community centred development, a prosperous and happy community, and eco-tourism pave the way for enduring success.

For interviews contact:

CPR Cayman

Email: cprcayman@gmail.com

 

1 CPR Cayman would like to again raise concerns about the current lack of referendum regulations. While the Elections Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands carefully regulates all aspects of general elections, including candidates’ expenses, advertising and disclosures, we are concerned that the Government referendum will proceed without adequate regulation to ensure a fair and effective process. Public spending has already begun with a complete absence of regulation. In 2019, the then government spent over CI$217,000 promoting the cruise berthing facility proposal by Verdant Isle.


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