Cayman and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association have signed a ‘tailored strategic agreement’ which could see more cruises heading here.
In a statement on Tuesday, the FCCA said that through the agreement it “will not only collaborate with the Cayman Islands government on enhancing their product and increasing cruise calls, but also will facilitate new experiences to offer cruise companies and will work with the local private sector to maximize any opportunities”.
Cayman resumed cruise tourism back in March after a two-year hiatus, with the return of Disney Magic, the first ship to dock in Grand Cayman since the border was closed in 2020.
Cayman is currently under Phase 2 of the cruise tourism-reopening plan, in which there are no restrictions on the number of ships allowed to call on Grand Cayman.
However, cruise passengers are required to follow local health protocols once on island, but do not have to take pre-arrival COVID tests.
Tourism and Transport Minister Kenneth Bryan welcomed the partnership in the statement.
“We are grateful to have like-minded partners such as the FCCA that not only wish to return to the Cayman Islands but will work strategically with us to enhance the cruise experience like never before,” he said.
The minister stressed that “safely and successfully welcoming cruise passengers back to the Cayman Islands has been one of government’s top priorities, as it is of significant importance to our local tourism industry and community”.
Bryan, in a further statement issued through the Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday evening, added that the 2022 FCCA Presidential Level Strategic Development Destination Partnership package, which Cayman signed up for, is being offered to only three Caribbean destinations, and allows those locations to be marketed directly to FCCA member lines which operate over 90% of the global cruising capacity.
“This marketing package offers the best exposure for the Cayman Islands to build a closer relationship with the FCCA and member cruise lines, as well as with cruise and travel stakeholders, consumers and more than 25,000 travel agents. It will showcase the Cayman Islands brand and image throughout the year to decision makers, while relaying our message and displaying our offerings through the FCCA’s conferences and events,” Bryan said in the statement.
Government and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives met at a networking event at the Kimpton Seafire on 2 Feb. where they discussed the future of cruise tourism ahead of the return of ships in March.
FCCA CEO Michele Paige, commenting on the new agreement, said through it the association will fulfil the Cayman Islands’ individualised initiatives, “which focus on assisting the private sector, improving employment, fostering cruise lines’ purchase of local goods and more that will help Caymanians prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings”.
“We are proud of our recent joint work with the Cayman Islands that facilitated the return of cruise tourism and excited that this agreement will expedite the recovery of so many livelihoods that have been put on hold,” she added.
Cruise benefits
The FCCA statement pointed out that through the agreement, “the Cayman Islands is looking to move full steam ahead in its opportunities for cruise tourism, which generated (US)$224.54 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, in addition to $92.24 million in total employee wage income, during the 2017/2018 cruise year”.
Those figures were according to the Business Research & Economic Advisors report ‘Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies’, the statement said.
According to the 2018 report, the Cayman Islands had the fourth highest number of passenger and crew onshore visits at 1.89 million and the fourth highest volume of direct expenditures, $225 million.
“The Cayman Islands had an average total expenditure of $119.10 per passenger and crew visit. The $225 million in cruise tourism spending in the Cayman Islands generated 4,622 total jobs and $92.2 million in wage income during the 2017/2018 cruise year,” it added.
Micky Arison, chairman of FCCA and Carnival Corporation & plc, commenting on the new agreement in the statement, said it shows the momentum that both FCCA and destinations are gaining with cruise tourism’s continued recovery.
“The Cayman Islands has been a long-standing partner of the industry, and I am honored that this agreement signifies the return of a premier cruise destination, along with the rebound of so many lives and livelihoods,” he said.
What the agreement entails
According to the statement, the strategic agreement will utilise FCCA’s cruise executive committees, including new and renewed sub-committees, focussed on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings and site visits on the Cayman Islands’ objectives.
“The Cayman Islands will also have open access to the FCCA Executive Committee, comprised of presidents and above of FCCA Member Lines, along with their efforts to bring about the agreement’s objectives and the destination’s goals,” it added.
Cayman Islands Director of Tourism Rosa Harris, in the statement, said, “Through this partnership with FCCA, we are eager to further elevate our tourism product and welcome a new generation of adventure-seekers aboard cruise ships.”
She pointed out that for decades, cruise tourism has been intrinsic to the Cayman Islands identity.
“As a luxury lifestyle destination, our delicious food, award-winning beaches, five-star amenities, and friendly wildlife are meant to be shared among friends and global travelers,” Harris said.
The statement also pointed out that other features of the strategic partnership will include a focus on converting cruise guests to stayover visitors, promoting summer cruising, engaging travel agents, creating consumer demand and developing a destination service assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities and needs.
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Just say NOOOOOO Cayman. We don’t want this.
Yet let us still continue to force those visitors arriving via air to jump through hoops.
And still the air travelers have to go through the hassle of the portal. What gives?
Sad to hear this government, like its predecessors, are not willing to move on from cruise tourism. This is an awful industry for the environment. The money and jobs from cruise tourism are not significant enough to warrant supporting this industry here. The money and jobs can be replaced with far more high value industries – but that takes initiative and courage, rather than resting on old industries of the past. As long as cruises continue to arrive here, Georgetown will remain an undesirable place for residents and high value stay over tourists to visit, and any plans to revitalize Georgetown are thus doomed to fail. When the next pandemic, or the next global financial crisis, hits….the cruise industry will once again be disrupted, and we would have wasted yet another an opportunity to move on from it.
Michael, it seems mankind can’t help themselves when decisions are made on dollar signs, and continue to waste opportunities that would benefit both future generations and the island. We need conscientious people in office and management positions who are not afraid to buck the trend. Instant gratification on lining pockets only works for so long. The cruise industry flaunts it’s $$$ signs and gets what it wants…to hell with the environment, marine life and well being of the island itself.
So, you’re letting the cruise people come onto the island without testing, but stay over visitors who come for weeks at a time and have been for 30 years still have to test the day before coming to the island???
Why the double standard? Cruiseship passengers don’t require a Covid test or obtain approval by Arrive Cayman before they arrive so tell us why people arriving on an airplane need to get approval and test before they arrive. Isn’t this discrimination?