How the international media reports crime can potentially impact on the holiday industry, say tourism bosses.
But the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and the Cayman Islands Tourism Association are working hard to get key message points across to the press.
“We have spokespeople who try and contain [a] situation,” said Shomari Scott, acting director of the tourism department.
“Hotels also have speaking points in case of questions [about crime and safety] from guests.”
Mr. Scott was speaking at a recent meeting held at the Westin Casuarina regarding crime issues in the Cayman Islands. He said the recent spate of shootings had not been picked up significantly in the United States, aside from some small circulation websites. The discovery of a body in Aruba had dominated headlines in many media, he said.
The department was also monitoring social media.
“There had been chatter on TripAdvisor and [we] were gauging when to jump in but others did on our behalf [instead] to say we were still a safe destination.”
Mr. Scott said had the department responded to the chat, there was a danger that this could lead to the story being spread even further.
Positive stories
Commissioner David Baines said on occasion there was a difficulty in getting positive stories into the media. He outlined a case where increased presence at Rum Point had led to the departure of criminal elements and made it safer for tourists, but that this had not necessarily been picked up by the press and rather used ‘as a stick to beat [the police] with’.
“However, we are a patient organisation,” Mr. Baines said. “And good job that we are.”
He said the police do not tell the media about every offender. Mr. Baines noted as an example on Monday, 26 September, a spot check by his officers had uncovered what he described as ‘a robbery team’ complete with masks.
Premier McKeeva Bush said that banner headlines in the press were not helpful.
“We know what is happening – we do not need it on the front page … the media has a huge role to play. I am not anti-media, but we are watched daily and there are people out there only too eager to give us a bad name.” This was illustrated by an erroneous report by the United States’ Bureau of Consular Affairs Travel information for Cayman, which stated that a US citizen had been shot to death in February 2010.
“Tourists are not being attacked but the Department of Tourism is spending two weeks to correct these things … these Anansi stories need to be corrected.” Locally, Mr. Bush said, there was a need to be careful in what was said and done, which applied equally to the public and in particular to media.
“The Compass does not need flamboyant stories. Anybody doing it does not have our country’s best interests at heart.”
Subtle attributes
Harry Lalli of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association said that Cayman had ‘subtle attributes’ that distinguished it from other destinations.
“[W]e can’t claim to be the biggest island, or the most remote. We are not a party island, or a gambling island, nor do we have the diverse natural environment or the most rich cultural elements. What we do have is a beautiful island that checks all the boxes, clean, friendly, easy to get to, convenient, great service, clearest waters and until now the safest island in the Caribbean.
“This has been one of the top selling points for tourism and other sectors, which we are now at risk of losing if we haven’t already. Between the social media crime news, the concerned visitors and staff, to even a reduction of up to 30 to 40 per cent at some local businesses, the Cayman Islands is faced with one of the worst catastrophes in its history,” he said.
Mr. Lalli said the association, which represents more than 200 private sector tourism-related businesses, did not see the problem as a government or police issue but one that all must work together to solve.
He said some tourism businesses had taken additional security precautions and the association had taken the suggestion of the commissioner of police to get involved with early crime prevention by supporting the Prison! Me! No Way! scheme with three years of funds.
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I read with great interest – yes indeed, the Cayman Islands are ‘facing one of the worst catastrophes in it’s history’ if the Police do not get their act together and get the violent crime under control.
Although so far ‘tourists’ have not been involved directly in the serious crimes, it is still not an appealing thought that places where we have eaten, and shopped regularly in the past have been subject to armed robbery.
‘Word’ will get out …… it is only a matter of time.
For goodness sake get the island properly sorted out (by those with the required skill and expertise); time is running out – quickly.
While crime must be kept in perspective, a proactive approach is the proper road to take. The reading public worldwide, especially in high Cayman bound US and Canadian demographic locations, are sophisticated and well informed. Travelers’ dollars are able to be spent in many competing island destinations if perceptions become more negative. Cayman must maintain a high publicity profile with a positive and upbeat message in order to overcome current local crime problems and an overall worldwide economic downturn. This cycle will hopefully turn around for all of us… Cayman locals and travelers like us, from the north, who still believe in Cayman; its people, weather, culture and atmosphere.
I think they are down playing or just not aware of the impact this has already had on Caymans reputation in the international community. I regularly have people coming to me asking questions about the crime in Cayman saying things like it used to be such a nice place. The sad thing is that it only takes a few incidents to get rumors started and then things get out of control when spread by word of mouth. I lady that I work with is a avid diver and says her and her husband did not go to Cayman this year to dive because of a story they read in a diving magazine about some people from the US that got attacked on the beach in Cayman. Although whatever Gang activity is going on in Cayman may encompass only a handful of individuals it sounds like the island is being overrun by gangs to the people who are on the outside looking in.
They really need to put a lot of seriousness on this. Don’t downplay it or it will be to late..
I am a frequent traveler to the Cayman Islands, actually we just returned from our 14th trip. Crime increase is surely apparent. The children are heavy indicators of this transition. While on the island, we noticed the very young boys wearing their pants below their butt..typical of gang bangers…here iN the U.S.,children are reprimanded for the style..this may be the focal point in combating the decline of Caymanian Culture…and, of course, the presence of gang bangers..parents are held responsible for their childrens dress code.
Word’s already out that crime is out of control on the island. The only thing they can do is to be proactive, and send 3 RCIPS officers off the island for training in forensics.
We can’t hide what’s going on here and now. Times have changed. It is to bad the ruling party don’t get it.(crime is out of control and affects our visitors)
The Minister of Education is working on a plan to deal with the children and it would be good if another plan could deal with these horrid parents.
All it’s going to take is one major crime against a tourist or American/Canadian expat and the headlines will explode, just as they did in the Natalie Holloway case in Aruba.