Strategic planning and protecting the environment are key in sustaining tourism.
That’s the view of the panel convened during a seminar designed to help the Leadership Cayman group explore issues and challenges affecting stayover and cruise tourism in the Cayman Islands.
The panel members discussed their thoughts on the current challenges faced by local tourism businesses as well as the marketing of our Islands as a tourism destination. The seminar also included a tour of the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa and the Carnival Freedom cruise ship.
Rod McDowall of Red Sail Sports was one of several speakers.
“We need a strategic plan as a country going forward in order to define our tourism product once and for all,” he said,
Joni Kirkconnell, the senior sustainable development officer at the Department of Environment, said there was no ‘lifeguard’ to protect the natural environment.
“We have marine parks, but no legislation.”
Peter Milburn of Dive Cayman echoed those words.
“Our natural environment is what tourism is built on. We need to protect it to ensure tourism continues here in the Cayman Islands,” he added.
Leadership programme
The Chamber’s Leadership Cayman programme was developed in answer to a need to ensure men and women of all types of backgrounds could access the information and experience to help them develop as leaders within the community. The six-month programme is designed to allow participants a deeper understanding of social, economic, business and political issues affecting us all, while they develop their own personal leadership styles and nourish their community spirit.
Class members interact with diverse, high-level community leaders and decision makers by organising and attending a series of seminars and retreats in areas ranging from business, government, education, media, social services, criminal justice, diversity, the arts and more.
The seminar was organised by programme participants Elaine Whitefield and Mark Edmunds and Planning Committee representative Stuart Bostock. It was sponsored by Bodden Holdings.
The speakers for the seminar were Shomari Scott, acting director of Tourism, Department of Tourism; Joni Kirkconnell, senior sustainable development officer, Department of Environment; Rod McDowall, operations manager, Red Sail Sports; and Peter Milburn of Dive Cayman.
Related Videos
