Cayman Islands Travel and Tourism

Premier Wayne Panton has unveiled a five phase reopening plan for Cayman’s borders that could see a limited return of tourism by September and a full easing of restrictions for vaccinated travelers and their children by mid-November.

Next month the bulk of the remaining staff and crew of Cayman’s Reef Divers will load up four boats and make the 520 nautical mile, 34-hour ocean crossing to set up shop in Turks and Caicos.

A look at what inclusion in the UK green travel list entails, with Cayman to be added on 30 June.

As Cayman is waiting a few more weeks for the release of its border reopening plan, other travel-dependent islands are moving at different speeds to restart their tourism industries.

The United Kingdom government confirmed today that the Cayman Islands has been added to its green travel list, meaning people entering Britain from here will no longer be required to quarantine from 30 June.

The British government is expected to announce details of the latest review of its green, amber and red travel lists, according to UK media reports.

A US federal court judge has ruled that, from 18 July, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer be able to enforce COVID-suppression rules on Florida cruise ships.

Cayman’s anticipated reopening is not as close as many would hope, with recalculated population numbers showing the jurisdiction is further away from achieving the vaccination percentages needed for herd immunity.

Cayman had a total of 5,566 stay-over visitors in the year since the pandemic began - about half of what the island would see in a single week during normal times.

Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has taken aim at the Premier Wayne Panton-led PACT government over its delay in announcing a formal reopening plan, saying a target date is needed now.

This week, the Cayman Compass met with a group of 20 restaurant owners and managers, all of whom had the same concern – with no clear path to reopening the borders, they don’t know how long they’ll be able to keep their doors open or their staff employed.

Cayman Airways has added two extra flights between Grand Cayman and Miami this month, due to increased demand.

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman is in the middle of a recruitment drive, but with no timeline for the reopening of the borders, the successful jobseekers won't be hearing immediately when they can start.

Government has confirmed two additional British Airways flights to meet increased demand during the summer.

Although Cayman's borders are closed to cruise travel, one 'Friends'-themed cruise is looking to stop in Grand Cayman in 2022.

Governor Martyn Roper has said while the recent uptick in vaccinations will take Cayman closer to the goal of reopening borders, it will still take more public support to make it happen.

No new countries or jurisdictions have been added to the UK green travel list, meaning Cayman remains on the amber list, according to a BBC report.

US cruise lines are awaiting a decision in the mediation of a lawsuit that challenges the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's authority to impose conditions, such as vaccinations for passengers and crew, before allowing cruise ships to sail.

The UK government is expected to announce its revised travel lists tomorrow, according to British media reports.

The Cayman Islands government is considering reducing the quarantine period for vaccinated travellers from 10 days to five days, and making it mandatory for work permit holders to be inoculated against COVID-19.

The local tourism industry should be recruiting staff now to prepare for the possible reopening of the borders later this year, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association advised its members this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday approved Royal Caribbean to launch the first test cruise from the US since the agency issued a no-sail order on all cruise lines last year.