PPM calls for cruise policy as numbers fall
(CNS): Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart (GTE) and his PPM colleague, Joey Hew (GTN), the deputy leader, took aim at the PACT Government this week for its failure to develop a cruise policy in the face of falling passenger numbers. Hew said that if Cayman is going to move out of the cruise business, it needs to help those who have depended on it.
Appearing on For the Record with Orrett Connor on Radio Cayman on Wednesday, the Progressive members, who had supported the costly, controversial berthing project, said that without a dock, the cruise sector would disappear. But if that is what people wanted, then government must develop a strategic policy to manage that decline and transition people who relied on cruise passengers to earn a living to overnight guests.
“We have heard that people are starting to feel the crunch,” said Hew. He claimed that there was $24 million missing from the economy as a result of the drop in passengers this year compared to 2019, which he attributed to the accumulation of around CI$75 that would have been spent by each ‘lost’ passenger.
At the end of May this year, around 668,000 passengers had arrived in Cayman aboard 228 ships, compared to almost 904,000 cruise visitors during the first five months of 2019 on more than 290 ships.
Hew argued that those in the cruise business needed to be re-tooled, but the country had heard nothing from Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan on how he planned to close the gap in earnings for those who were losing business.
“We were hoping we would hear something concrete from the minister… on what we are going to do to help persons move away from cruise tourism into other aspects of tourism… How are we going to assist them in pivoting as the numbers continue to reduce?” Hew asked, warning that people would begin fighting over passengers.
He said he was aware that people have advocated for pulling out of the cruise business for many years. But if that was the case, the government must find something else for generations of Caymanian boat owners who have depended on the cruise sector for decades, he said.
McTaggart said the cruise sector was in distress, but the government wasn’t acting. He said he believed the minister was asleep on the issue because PACT didn’t know what they intended to do about this element of the local tourism product. “We need a policy,” he added.
The government has reviewed a plan to hire outside consultants to work on a cruise policy but decided to do this internally within the ministry instead. However, Minister Bryan has already stated on numerous occasions that without a berthing facility, which does not have public support, the numbers of cruise ship passengers would fall.
He is seeking some $3 million in next year’s budget to help local tour operators come up with new ideas for attractions and trips to improve the share of revenue that Caymanians receive from the visitors that are still coming.
In contrast to the opposition’s concerns that cruise visitors will soon disappear, executives from the sector said after a recent Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association summit held on Grand Cayman that holding it here had reminded them “how phenomenal Cayman is” and how popular the destination remains.
Wendy McDonald from Royal Caribbean Cruises said that the Cayman Islands remains one of the most popular ports of call and made it clear that, despite the cruise line’s preference for docks, the ships that can tender will not stop coming.
Bryan has said he is seeking to attract smaller, more luxurious or speciality cruise lines while ensuring that local tour operators get the most from the visitors who arrive by boat or by plane.
While passenger numbers are down from 2019, which was a record-breaking and exceptional year for cruise tourism, the overnight sector is continuing to improve as the travel industry rebounds after the pandemic.
- Fascinated
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- Afraid
Did the current leadership of the PPM forget that they were in Cabinet from 2017-2021?
During 2020 and COVID lockdown years there was collaboration between CIG, the private sector and key stakeholders industry.
At that time the SEAC (Strategic Economic Advisory Council) group for Tourism identified priorities and solutions to address issues in the tourism industry, including cruise-related matters.
The PPM leadership and MP Hew in particular had 18-20 months to implement the suggestions/strategies and key initiatives before there was a change in elected government at the end of April 2021 etc.
The reality is that PPM and MP Hew chose to do nothing with the data, information collated and “RECOMMENDATIONS”. They were given a road map by SEAC in 2020-2021.
If the PPM were really concerned, MP Hew would have taken the necessary actions then. The current stance and political posturing now ring hollow, particularly when MP Hew was in the position to drive policy changes and implement recommendations from the industry and SEAC.
Has he forgotten all of this already or is he now simply playing politricks?
If he needs a copy of the SEAC report, tell him to ask his former Cabinet colleague, MP Moses Kirkconnell, and the Cabinet Secretary or give me a call and I’ll share a copy.
FYI – The information was widely disseminated and in the public domain.
#STAYWOKE🇰🇾
https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/07/06/what-is-the-special-economic-advisory-committee/
Regards
Johann Moxam
I could not say it any better! They are silly to bring this up again but they don’t learn
Most everything done concerning the actions by McTaggert and Hew concerning cruise ships seem to be beneficial to themselves.
Isn’t that strange?
Well said Johan.
The progressives cannot be trusted that is clear to sensible voters.
By their own hand, the PPM manifesto hasn’t won popular electoral support in over a decade. It’s past time for an investigation into all historical Cabinet dealings and deliver the anti-corruption results that the FATF, OECD, and all of us, strain to see realized in our jurisdiction.
Roy and Joey, Please stop trying tear the PACT Government apart.
You and PPM had an opportunity to do right for ordinary Caymanians but you did not, only favoured the rich.
Move aside give new persons an opportunity to serve doing what is best for Caymanians now and in the future.
and this is why PPM cannot be allowed back into power. left to their own devices they WILL resurrect the cruise terminal plans and they WILL attempt to again ram it through without public vote while selling our future to the cruise line executives. PPM is hell bent on turning cayman into little Miami. If allowed in again they will remove building hight restrictions, beach setback requirements, EIA requirements etc. I don’t like PACT, I think they are an ineffective,manny headed monster that can’t agree on a direction for the future and that when they have a good idea they fail at execution due to not having cohesive plan. However I would rather that than PPM be successful in their ultimate goal of hocking away our future to the highest bidder.
Get rid of the low budget mass market cruise lines, (Carnival) and be more selective with the remainder.
Then build affordable hotel stock instead of this myopic and Dart driven push for 5* concrete edifices that have the character of a telephone exchange building.
Middle earners should be the target as they have more disposable income and won’t just sit in their plush hotels pumping money into a select few interests and away from local businesses.
Open up the market to European travellers by encouraging direct flights in competition with greedy BA. And review the damaging policy on all inclusive resorts.
And before all of that, implement a fully integrated public transport system that reduces reliance on hire cars. That should include larger buses driven by competent professionals, efficient and affordable taxis, and efficient public ferry services on the North Sound.
But there’s the catch, efficiency. Not exactly a Cayman specialty.
For what it costs a family to stayover here, you could pick any beach in America, maybe add in Disney or waterparks, and still spend less than coming here.
true, but then you’re in ‘Merica
Sure, but then you’d be in America, not to mention their “beaches” are acceptable at best (not including their OTs).
Nonsense. Destin, Florida and Jekyll Island are lovely places, and historic coastal places such as Charleston, South Carolina are vibrant historic towns.
There are also lovely beaches in North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Californiaand even New Hampshire.
There is much more to a great vacation than overpaying for a mid luxury hotel and overpriced mid restaurants found here.
Yawn. Why are you here and not in any of those other places?
simple! we pricing ourselves outta market!
PACT…PPM…UDP…SAME S#@t different day.
There are some meaningful policy differences, but far slower and less follow-through than originally promised. That doesn’t mean that we should reject those steps in the right direction and turn back to full corruption.
So shut down the cruise industry. I drive a bus on the royal Watler dock. Buy my bus business for CI$ 400,000. Because I have aproximately 10 years left of my life. You could also pay me CI$4000 per month till I die, free medical, dental, and eye care to include also.
Because you want a St Barts type of island tourism, caviar and champagne. Their population is very small but no matter send home all the blue collar jobs on work permit . . We will no longer need to build a longer runway or need the 737-800. Better for the country. I don’t want to work, what for? I’m 70. In fact send me to Cayman Brac. I’ll rent a house on the beach live off a universal income in a socialist island. Maybe smoke cigars or do drugs? Whatever you all think will be better than Cruise ship tourism. Why fight the environmentalist they know better.
JUST REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR MOUTH WHERE YOUR MONEY IS. Nobody wants the taxi,bus business, stingray city business, etc. We all want to eat breakfast at the Ritz! Sounds great when do we start??
Let’s first take down all of the houses on canal subdivisions around the island so WE can really make a difference to the environment. Shut down the CUC plant cause that’s destroying the environment. Everybody will transfer to solar power at each residential and commercial business, it should be the law. Pay a fine if it’s not done in three years. All boats needed will all have to be under sail. Too much noise pollution. See we can really make Cayman better. Well let’s start with these small changes. You all can really participate with more ideas like this. Less traffic could be further reduced by only allowing delivery trucks and golf cars that can reach 25 mph. You can look at this example Disneys Village or https://youtu.be/r98-JITrkXQ
Can’t wait. Hurry while I’m still alive, I need to buy a cappuccino every morning.
I haven’t heard of anything planned or have been planned to replace cruise tourism. I found 6,7, ships in Harbour back in the past To be horrific but certainly Cayman should be able to host 2,3 a couple times per week. It should be all or nothing. Is the government scuttling cruise tourism, is it just dropping off by the cruise companiesor do we need another Minister of Tourism??
Poor you. It’s everyone else’s fault isn’t it?
I am nearly your age, and in approximately the same living standard. The difference is that I acknowledge that I did it to myself. Nobody owes me anything. I will ride my own resources until I die.
Accept responsibility for your own condition. That’s the first step. The second step is to just LIVE. The sea is our family. Enjoy the beauty of our islands. Be grateful that you are blessed to not live anywhere else.
Wow! That’s a good example of Cayman – “un-education”. I see why you are in such straits with this level of competence. Good luck with that!
The way you bus drivers navigate the roads, 10 years is optimistic
Like his coffee, this one is bitter.
Somebody give this person a hug.
Parts of what you say are correct: many blue collar workers on work permits could be sent back home. This would reduce pollution and overcrowding.
What you have perhaps overlooked however is that many of those vacated jobs where the need remains extant could then be done by Caymanians displaced from the cruise industry. Security guards, for example, don’t need education or qualifications, simply the ability to observe, engage politely, and call 911 if necessary.
The answers are there, it’s just that they rely for implementation on a corrupt and incompetent Caymanian political class which is unable to, e.g. fix the dump or the public transport system. The likely outcome therefore is whatever inertia, kick-backs and patronage lead to. Probably more of the same. Sadly, it’s the locals who will suffer, as expats – by definition – are employable elsewhere.
Must be new here, or have no experience with the Caymanian workforce.
What a bunch of BS! I have a lot of friends that believe you are just faking it fo mislead Caymanians and get the cash flowing to the “right Places” for the “right” people, which of course are people like you.
P.S. Grand Cayman will not sink into the sea when those horrible cruise ships stop running and sail away……..and take all of their polluting with them!
We are reading that you are already 5 years past retirement, driving a bus with paying passengers, and yet planning to die inside 10 years by age 80. How do these thoughts fit together? Your estate might be updated to note that your used Beforward.jp bus is a continuously depreciating asset, and was never worth KYD$400,000 even when it came off the production line a decade or more ago. Enjoy those golden years!
Apparently sarcasm is unfamiliar to you folks.
Sorry I should have remembered you obviously don’t understand its not just about a bus. It is about a lifetime of woking in an industry that Caymanians have been building since 1937. It’s a history a culture. Its like you telling people you have the right to go between to properties and set up a picnic because you once use to own a beach that has been sold for over 30-40 years. It’s like my generation who use to get free medical, dental, and eyecare and people took away our rights as a British citizen. We didn’t go independent because we wanted to stay British. Its like the way people who sold all their swampland in the west of the island but scream murder and that we could save the planet. We are not allowing the Eastern districts to do the same because all of a sudden you all got scientifically smarter? Really? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
No matter what you think is right, we can’t eat coral. We will continue to fish. People are tired of bad for me but good for you.
The tour business is a trade and business license like any other business. I want a million dollars . We suffered the lows and the highs we went a won different contracts just like any real estate or building contractor. It’s a business. It makes good profit. If you don’t like people in our industry too bad.
No matter what you think we need a cargo dock now. It is necessary for the growing population. It is not going down it’s going up. We WILL build taller buildings its only a matter of time. It will obviously not be you or me, but it’s going to happen. When the last piece of property is sold. The Government of the day WILL decide to go up instead of out. Did you not learn Economics in high school or college? How can you stop it?
There is a rumour going on now that is expressing concern about AI. Millions of people will lose their cushy financial, white collar and blue collar jobs. Robots will serve everything we will need. Amazon will totally go all robotics. Humans will get a universal income decided by the WEF or God forbid AI’s, who will figure out whatever profession you’re in they don’t need you. I’ll probably be dead by then but you won’t. Its coming and no one can stop it. So maybe you’ll be able to get out of the way of the mega rich who will control the world. SO GOOD LUCK.
You have hit the nail on the head. The people commenting here on removing cruise tourism are economically illiterate and have not done any analyis of the effect of removing cruise tourism, and how that foreign direct investment would be replaced. They simply assume that they will have their current job and cozy financial circumstance forever. That is why they support economically destructive policy. This destructive behaviour will continue until a severe recession comes, unless common sense people like yourself get back in control.
The idea that cruise passengers spend $75 per head is stupid. It’s less than $28.
As cruise prices dropped, and what was luxury became mass market, margins became smaller & so ships became bigger.
Now we have monster ships filled with passengers who pay a few hundred for a week’s vacation.
The only way it can be profitable now is on a giant scale. That might work for the cruise companies, piling them high and selling tickets cheap.
But the damage to small fragile islands is too high.
We are degrading our tourism experience, damaging our environment, all for diminishing returns.
Time to support those caught in the painful transition and walk away from cruise.
The cruise industry may be on a decline. Could this be why mega ships are being built?
If the industry is on a decline, that’s great for the earth. We aren’t equipped for mega ships and I hope we never are.
Seafarers Way is already maxed out 6 days a week at times, and its total madness when thousands of cruise ship tourists are mixed in.
3 ships are slated here Wednesday. At least 2 of them should be sent to Spotts terminal to allow residents to travel to and from work without delays.
As they likely won’t be, because that would make too much sense, they will be allowed to flood the port area because no one really cares about the resident’s quality of life.
Either manage the ships better, or follow Amsterdam’s lead and ban them.
Financial services and stayover tourism are more valuable to the economy at large.
Y’all missing the point that was being made.
The Opposition said that, quoting from the story, “without a dock, the cruise sector would disappear. But if that is what people wanted, then government must develop a strategic policy to manage that decline and transition people who relied on cruise passengers to earn a living to overnight guests.”
That makes sense. So I don’t know what you people arguing about. No decent Government throws a few thousand people out of work and make them lose their investment without providing a viable alternative. What if it was you? Get some perspective please.
Build nice public green spaces and restrooms, maybe a waterpark. Use the displaced cruise workers as maintenanc & greeters, etc, etc
Create a beautification department tasked with keeping the island clean-picking up rubbish, emptying bins, clearung sidewalks, and cleaning beaches.
Most beach resorts and governments in America employ people to do this at the crack of dawn so the area is clean for the day.
There are lots of industries that have shut down, or adjusted their business models, over the years without fanfare, or unilateral public money bailout. That’s life. Failing cruise businesses were offered the generous extra facility of free business consulting and economic transition planning, and many chose instead to retain an inflexible loosing model and seek political funding from PPM. Any Company operating in our Islands that isn’t solvent must be shut down and struck, not selectively floated for years with public funds, depending on who their grandparents were! That’s not decency, that’s cronyism, and we’ve had enough of it.
Of the US$28 spent by the average cruise passenger, how much goes back to the cruise line?
Roy and Joey NEVER talk about that fact, some money is spent on activities in Grand Cayman, but the cruise line take back a lot of that money.
Yes! The big cruise ships are at the top of the list when it comes to POLLUTION……………… FOR MAN AND SEA- LIFE!
I sat on public beach and watched cruise ship passengers pay $20 for a chair, pay $10 dollars for each drink and $15 for Lunch then pay $70 for a ride on the jet ski. There was plenty of money being spent by cruise ship passengers in a few hours on the beach.
Wait and see how enjoyable it is next week when 3 ships with almost 10,000 people are wandering aimlessley and backing up traffic.
Please, mom, send storms.
Better than the stay over tourists causing accidents on our roads and causing more traffic congestion than the cruisers.
Both are nuisances to residents, but the worst drivers are still locals.
6.26am Jamaicans are not locals.
The entire cruise product needs to be purged.
George Town-
I often feel embarrassed when driving through the water front on a busy day. The crowds find George Town is hot, dirty, and over crowded. There is a lack of anything original, lack of wheel chair accessible paths(see Atlantis Dive Shop), lack of shade and so on. By far the best part of GT is the dancing policeman!
Taxis/Buses – Very reminiscent of neighbouring third world islands islands with drivers jousting for business only to over charge and under impress.
Water Sports- Best thing that could happen is the cruise numbers drop to stop the over crowding of tired old vessels who truly are the biggest embarrassment of the Cayman Islands. Cattle boats do not create memories, they produce stories of unsafe experiences and the feeling of being taken advantage of.
Stay classy Cayman
So true and I would add-
Why not use the land that was planned to build yet another building on and create a green space with plenty of shade, make it handicapped accessible, and build public bathrooms and showers?
Add a water bottle refill station, ban all vendors and higglers and install cameras and regular police foot patrols.
Build a water feature for kiddos like Camana Bay and The Grove.
This would create a nice spot for everyone, including residents.
As far as the tourism experience, there is more than enough room at Spotts terminal to build the same or even larger facilities.
in the short term, when multiple ships are here, STOP ALLOWING THEM ALL IN ONE LOCATION.
Spotts and even East End should be used to alleviate traffic congestion for residents.
All logical. But that is the problem… there is NO LOGIC in Cayman. Poor education, no logic.
“Add a water bottle refill station” why when everyone here drinks bottled water!!!!
I have no stake in the cruise passenger business at all and frankly share the annoyance and frustration with having to navigate through a sea of cruise ship passengers but I recognize that there are workers and families who depend on them to pay their bills and put food on the table. Some of the callous attitudes displayed in these comments are repugnant. Just because it isn’t your ox being gored today doesn’t it mean it won’t be yours tomorrow.
I hear you. I don’t know if others do, but I do. I hear you. I am not a proponent of the cruise ships, but you have opened my eyes to the plight of those dependent upon them.
I don’t know what the answer is. I wish we could survive independent of the cruise ships and their pollution.
I am glad that some understand that this is not simple. The country have for 50 years built a cruise industry and for several generations Caymanians have been able top make a living from cruise. Our seafarers retiring from sea and would start a taxi business based on cruise. Cruise tourism became bigger and more people made a living from it. and the country profited.
I am no fan of cruise ships. Yes they pollute but so do all ships. Are we going to stop shipping all together?
I wish we could survive without airplanes and their pollution as well. But very few if any of us are willing to return to sailing ships for travel. Very few of those complaining about cruise are willing to give up their flights to the USA or Europe.
It is a funny world and those who point fingers rarely look at their own behaviours. They have built on inland mangrove spaces in South Sound yet fight against others who want to do similar for a home.
The Government must have a plan for those who will be displaced because of declining cruise industry that is our own doing.
Nuff said.
Too many downvotes here. If these people lose their livelihoods, and cannot find work, it will likely lead to more crime.
No handouts, but some sort of realistic job retraining should happen.
After all this time Cayman should be able to properly manage a decent tourism sector that includes cruise tourism. If the cruise dock is made to look attractive, kept to a highly professional standard of cleanliness with the proper amenities and safeguards it should’ ‘ be that hard. Every type of industry on island has its own stateholders, caretakers, and employees so who exactly will be moved from tourism , retrained to do what. So far we haven’t done a good job in training all of our students to get them ready to take their place in this society or other societies. Some of these taxi and bus drivers have been doing this for a very long, the better older ones love their jobs. I doubt a 40,50 year person will want to cross train if it is even possible.
Most of us get all that and most of us recognize it’s the real world and adjustments need to be made. You think caymanian tourism operators are going to be the first group of ppl in the world that have to retool to find new trades? It’s not about being callous it’s about being realistic. Read the tea leaves and move accordingly. Imagine tourism operators and cruise ship firms dictating how caymanians in general should operate. NOBODY told anybody to go bet their livelihoods on stingray city tours and now the rest of us must feel sorry for them because the world is changing and they don’t want to?
When did we turn into a bunch of complaining softers. Bout callous.
Well said.
Those with cushy jobs and who get a paycheck deposited every month for pushing paper have no idea what it is like to go out and actually get business and earn money. If you are sick and cannot go to work, you don’t get paid. You have to save as much as you can in the high season to have money to live in the slow season. If the high season is meagre, then the slow season is famine.
I listened to the radio show that morning. The guys said that you can’t just say that cruise is going away and not have anything for people to do. They are correct.
The cruise business has been an important part of our tourism product since the 1970s. We even featured cruise ships on our stamps. It was promoted by governments. Cruise passengers returned as stayover visitors.
So whatever happens to cruise because of decisions the country makes, then the country must have a solution to help those thousands who were encouraged to serve, and invest in, the cruise industry and help to build this country.
Lol you think driving a bus is somehow more work than pushing paper? Based on what?
Neither are out in the fields picking cotton or mining sulfur out of a volcano. You sound like an ignorant lazy person trying to defend other ignorant lazy people
Adapt or die. That’s been the way of the world forever and it’s not going to change anytime soon. If you want to sit there complaining and asking other ppl what they can do for you, instead of finding a trade that is resilient that your great-grandchildren can benefit from, thats on you….nobody else.
Sick of caymanians sounding stupid and pathetic.
There is no shortage of adverts for, e.g. serving staff or security guards, and yet all of these roles appear to be done by work permit holders.
I accept that people’s egos may be offended by having to do a job they perceive being beneath them, but that’s your answer: the work is there, some locals just refuse to do it.
That’s where displaced cruise industry people can go.
There’s the rub. Many Caymanians have entitlement mindset. Management level demands, zero credentials, and unwilling to climb the ranks.
That will never change.
Don’t want or need ‘em.
We need to return to being an exclusive destination for people w $ to SPEND, and stop selling ourselves short to a Cruise industry that dilutes our tourism product while pocketing the profits instead of the deserving hardworking CAYMANIANS who are actually providing the services.
And YES, there are many hardworking CAYMANIANS trying to make an honest living in their own country that these politicians seem to forget pay their salaries!
Interesting use of caps.
Did you finish middle school?
What a stupid insulting to Caymanians comment.
Another PPMBOT.
Now what do you have to say about those CAPS? 🙂
PPM – that ship has sailed! It is sinking. You chose to be on it, and are going down. Damn you. You can’t even see the harm you have done.
PPM is struggling to find relevance.
Roy and Joey please stop spending the week grabbing at straws to create some issue to attack the Government.
Instead find ways to work with Government for the betterment of the Cayman Islands.
Roy and Joey, please stop clogging up the airwaves, internet and CNS with your stupidness.
What part of this did you not understand? Joey & Roy said that if the cruise industry is declining then there must be a strategy and plan for an alternative for those who depend on cruise to make a living. That is wrong?
And please tell me what harm did the PPM do. Don’t accuse be specific. What I remember was how they helped bring back the economy when people were hurting and unemployed.
I remember them rebuilding government coffers so that we had plenty money saved for bad times. How do you think we managed to survive COVID?
I remember them paying off most of government’s loans. I remember them not borrowing and not increasing any taxes during their 8 years. I remember them paying for stuff using cash because they managed the countrys money well.
And I remember the leadership Alden and the PPM showed during the start of COVID. God help us if this ineffective and indecisive bunch were in charge then.
So.. tell me what damage has the PPM done? And what would you undo if you were in Government and were responsible for 70K people who live here?
UDP, PNA and PPM have all sold the common Caymanians out to the rich, they dictatorially ignore the wishes of the people.
Gave away the “camping site” to Dart at the West Bay Road Public Beach.
Overpopulated our Islands to displace Caymanians.
Continued on from Mackeeva’s giving away to tens of thousands of Status Grants.
Supported the destruction of our valuable nature items.
Just the beginning of the list, leaving space for others to add.
Ban cruise ships altogether. It’s so much easier to drive around with no ships visiting. The ships already take most of the money for tours and snorkel trips that are prebooked, so where is the great benefit of having them come here? Sure, there will be some pain, but we survived without them during the pandemic. Let’s focus on the stayover visitor who really spends locally.
Thankfully you see what Roy and Joey do not see – the cruise ships make most of the money spent by cruise passengers in Cayman.
Drive around? Clogging up the streets and making it unsafe for us who walk.
Leave your car at home and walk or ride a bicycle instead.
We survived without cruise ships by giving 2,500 or so people monthly money to live off of. And we allowed them to access their pensions to also help.
You need to get out your air-conditioned car and walk around and talk with the people making some money on the docks to understand their life before you rant.
God bless.
Just saw an article that Amsterdam have banned cruise ships due to too many people. When are we going to learn and follow suit. We currently have not stopped cruise tourism so why should it be government and our pockets that pay the way for people in the cruise sector to figure out what to do next
Their leaders are educated and quite sensible.
we don’t need no stickin’ cruise ships
Of all the policy gaffes to take issue with…rejecting voter sentiment and barking to retain mass cruise arrivals is top of the list for this increasingly permanent backbench PPM.
I just got back from a trip to Greece. Most ports there – including the famous Santorini are closed m
tender only. It works for them and it can work for cayman too. Frankly Santorini was over run with cruise passengers and I couldn’t wait to leave. Cayman should ban cruise ships entirely it makes for a much better local and visitor experience.
Meanwhile, the city of Amsterdam has just decided to ban cruise ships from docking in the city. Read about it here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/world/europe/amsterdam-cruise-ships.html
Citizens of the Cayman Islands, let’s not let greedy politicians ruin our beautiful country any more than they already have.
I saw a similar article. But read the full text and not just the headline. There is no ban in place and who knows if one will actually happen. Excerpt from the WSJ:
“Anouk Panman, a spokesperson for deputy mayor Hester van Buren, confirmed in an email Friday the city council had adopted the motion. “The municipality of Amsterdam is going to investigate how this proposal can be implemented,” she wrote.
Panman said the proposal still has to be discussed with partners in the North Sea Canal area.
“This will take some time, so at the moment we cannot give any details on how or when the proposal will be implemented,” she wrote.
Dick de Graaff, director of the operator of the cruise terminal, told the Associated Press that 114 ships were expected to stop there this year, with 130 forecast for next year. He said Cruise Port Amsterdam was waiting to see what the city would do next but was not immediately closing the terminal.
The Cruise Lines International Association said in a statement that while the industry group was aware of reports about the future of cruising in Amsterdam, there was no ban in effect. The statement said the port and passenger terminal had already pledged to invest millions in infrastructure and shore-based electricity for future use.”
The places you describe to not have economies dependent completely on tourism and one other industry, financial services. The financial secretary just pointed out that the Government is running a large deficit every year due to the health insurance obligations to retired civil servants. The reality is that Cayman depends on investment from abroad and telling those people to go away is not a good idea, even if they are cruise ship passengers that annoy you. Many of those cruise passengers will come back for longer vacations, and invest in property.
There are many examples around the world of places that used to be vibrant and now are poor because of public policy. Cayman’s wealth is not a god given right and must be maintained with careful stewardship. Even those folks who are multimillionaires right now need to be careful. If Cayman suffered a significant economic decline, then where exactly would you move to?
The amount supposedly spent by cruise passengers used to be said to be $50 per passenger now it’s apparently $75. No one has ever demonstrated the validity of this calculation and I have felt from the start it is highly dubious. Thousands seem to wander around pointlessly with maybe an ice cream in their and or a bottle of water ( which they may have brought with them from the ship ).
CIG passenger head tax, in the best year ever, was around $3mln gross for the year, before deductions for port operations, CBC, “beautification”, subsidies/rebates to liners for tendering, turtle farm subsidies, and artificial stingray feeding programs. There is so much data missing from the decision matrix. Best guess is that this industry is a material net loss loser the way it is, probably in the tens of millions, and needs to be refocused, or cut! Lifetime loss figures are staggering.
How much is taken by cruise lines from Caymanian operators out of the money spent at attractions and activities in Cayman?
PPM Leader Roy and Deputy Joey, stop giving only one sided information, be as eager to publish this information instead of being the mouth piece for your buddy cruise line Millionaire executives.
PPM learn to think of Caymanians first.
The obvious destination for the [future] displaced cruise tourism workers is, Civil Service. Several hundred injected into the C.S. will take the load off the already overworked , overpaid and over CIG welfare dependent numbers already in their ranks.
So the people who did absolutely nothing are now asking why the current lot are doing absolutely nothing.
This is Cayman…
So the person (@12:06)who anonymously sits behind a computer screen accuses people appearing in person on the radio, and taking up the cause of cruise tourism workers, of doing absolutely nothing.
I know that Roy McTaggart and Joey Hew and Alden McLaughlin et al have a track record of achievement that anyone can point to if they are prepared to be honest. Lets look at a few:
Revitalised economy (including tourism), defended Cayman’s financial services industry, strengthened the economy and greatly reduced unemployment, created a joined-up Customs & Border Control service, started the Coastguard, paid of most of the government debt, saved millions in reserves, hundreds of Caymanians were able to start their own business, and guided us through the dark days of COVID. Cayman came out of COVID far better than any other Caribbean country because of leadership and foresight to save for bad times.
What did you do to help the country over the past 8 years 12:06?
lol I love how easy it is to spot the PPM staffers.
can you guys please try and use your indicators when you turn into the office on Crew road? I almost rear ended on of you when you decided indicators were optional on Wednesday
WOW PPMBOTS work also work on Sundays.
I hope Alden is paying you overtime!
Also that it is more than the Minimum Wage of CI$6 per hr. they refused to raise.
Don’t trust the Ppm for a second. They’ll take their pants off to big money every time.
If they get back in the duty concessions will be flowing out the back door, just like they were in the past.
How many millions of dollars did the Ppm give away to foreign developers?
all Roy and Joey do is act like teenagers, whining and pointing fingers anytime some negative news comes out. Get a grip! You did nothing for the community the years you were in office, just go away already!
The future of cruise tourism is in luxury cruises which have less impact on our marine environment and will put more money in the pockets of the boat/tour operators b/c they will be more than willing to spend money for those experiences. Cayman is now the #2 most expensive place to live… do they really think cruisers on Royal Caribbean etc are coming off those ships and spending lots of money on land? I think not!
It’s not like the cruise tourism business in Cayman is being cut off overnight due to government intervention (for instance with Covid). If it is dwindling, and I would certainly appreciate it dwindling more, then that is just the life cycle of business and if there are too many service providers for the cruise ship demands, some will need to diversify their product offering or go out of business. It’s kind of how capitalism works.
I never thought I would say this about KB’s approach to anything, but KB’s approach of “seeking to attract smaller, more luxurious or specialty cruise lines while ensuring that local tour operators get the most from the visitors who arrive by boat or by plane” is the right one.
Roy’s analysis of imaginary ‘lost dollars’ completely ignores hundreds of millions of dollars of social, environmental and and infrastructure costs that mega-cruise ships would bring.
KB is no different. He has been seduced by FCCA and the wrong end of the mass cruise industry. He wouldn’t even know the brand names of the liners that fit the target audience. There is no DOT policy to deliver the end product these affluent travellers seek, and make the destination appealing beyond a handful of hotels. Not even an exit survey to learn what was wrong, or how it might improve. eg. There are few interesting attractions beyond the resort gates. Little art, dance, or music of note. No improv or comedy of interest. No sidewalk lighting on the west side of West Bay Road in the heart of Hotel Tourism Zone – the lighting is on the East side where there is no sidewalk. No bike lanes. No parking. 100% increase in violent crime, and yet, no visible responding police presence/hours of operation. Many restaurant menus are stuck in an allergy and preference-free era. No reliable public transport – most Florida towns have free tourist Trolleys with an app that shows where they are. They also have nice clean Uber services instead of cash-only Japanese Omni-jalopies. Lots of hot places that our guests could go to, and safer too!
Nice try by Roy’s and Joey’s PPMBOT, but we saw you writing this post.
Yes, some good suggestions…but then while PPM was the Government for 16 years, why did you not introduce these ideas.
However if you or your Tourism Minister, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell did have the ideas but failed to introduce them, then explain why not.
Roy and Joey, please stop your weekly whining session.
NOT to mention that THE PEOPLE have spoken and they DON’T want the cruising berths. So move on please.
When did the people speak? When was the referendum? Build our damn piers – We (the people)have spoken.
But the people speaking is democracy in action and the PPM fight against democracy, they only want antidemocratic autocratic rule.
Roy and Joey will you propose any action to increase democracy?
Joey really solved everything last time didn’t he? Glad he’s back with loads of answers again. What a joke.
How about term limits to stop these chancers making careers out of doing nothing but siding with Dart?
As to tourism, isn’t it great the FCCA were reminded how phenomenal Cayman is when they stay in luxury hotels with access to uncrowded beaches. If any sort of cruise market was to succeed here we must give the public access to more beach on SMB. The remaining few ways to do this now is for government to:
relocate the Governors residence and add to the existing tiny governors beach area;
also, Government should be buying the condos that are being targeted by developers – look at Islands Club, Cayman Club, Harbour Heights and other 3 storey developments from the 80/90’s
frankly, government should be doing this for the Caymanian people and its residents
Wait less cruise tourism is a bad thing?
No one needs to worry because once Kenny & Rosa get that beautiful new rich people air terminal built, the rich and famous will be flying in hear like crazy. They will snap up all the most expensive places and eat at the most high end restaurants. We do not need these poor common folks anymore!
Time for the people to vote Roy and Joey out as mla’s they are out of touch. Both are controlled by big business
Didn’t everyone already agree that the tourism focus was better spent on high-end stay over guests versus cruise ships?
All to be seen here is disingenuous political posturing.
Who are all these high end tourists flocking and that will return year after year? Most high end tourists in my area have no interest in GC, but I do know a few “ budget” families who have visited year after year and quite a few single professionals who have cruised multiple times to GC.
The extended covid lockdowns and bans on cruise ships was the perfect time to transition those working in the cruise industry into other lines of work, but instead the PPM was paying money to anybody who said they had lost income, and now it sounds like they proposing we do that again!?
Free business advise was generously extended from accounting industry, and that hand slapped away with PPM bailouts, ignoring public sentiment, and a voter petition! Let loosing businesses fail!
Joey Who has no shame and should remain silent.
He is an embarrassment and elected only because of garrison politics brought by One Man One Vote system
PPM nearly bankrupted these islands with their lies and expensive cruise berthing plans in 2019. Thank you CPR for exposing all the lies and shenanigans by Alden Moses Joey Roy Julie Barbara David and Jon Jon this country would be screwed if the people did not fight the PPM for a referendum that must be done if any cruise berthing project is considered by this or any future government in 2025 and beyond.
Joey Hew and Roy McTaggart confirm every time they speak that the ppm are led by two compromised and out of touch buffoons. Cruise ships will continue to call on the Cayman Islands due to its key strategic location for the western cruise itinerary just ask Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico about the importance of the Cayman Islands.
Voters must understand ppm are hellbent on a cruise dock. Thankfully CPR stood up and succeeded with a Judicial Review decision that mandates a referendum on this issue. However, voters must never forget their actions or allow them back as our government because they cannot be trusted.
Those two only say what Sir Alden tells them to say. He still is the boss
At least they have a boss – who the hell is guiding the PACK. They are still clueless!
WelL…………… I certainly have no idea about anything that would change anything . Duhhhhh!
do-nothing-ppm blaming no-plan-pact???…
welcome to wonderland.