Tourism minister confident of future rebound
(CNS): While the return of any kind of tourism for the rest of this year hangs in the balance, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said Monday in a message marking World Tourism Day that he remains confident the industry will eventually “rebound stronger than before”. The sector here has been largely on hold for more than 18 months and is now likely to stay that way for at least a couple more, which means that thousands of Caymanians, like tourism workers around the world, have lost their jobs, businesses and livelihoods, which, despite the minister’s optimism, may never return.
As other countries begin reducing restrictions and opening up to visitors again, the theme for this year is ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’, which reflects strong feelings around the world that the sector has not always been inclusive and that post-COVID the benefits of tourism must be more equitable for all those in jurisdictions where tourism is an important economic driver.
Bryan said the Pact administration was doing all that it could to ensure that tourism workers and businesses will not become the forgotten casualties of this deadly disease, but will be partners in the redevelopment of a renewed and revitalised Cayman Islands tourism industry.
“As your government, we recognise the vital role that tourism plays in creating jobs, attracting foreign investments, driving the development of critical infrastructure, and promoting trade across multiple sectors in our economy,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting our tourism sector, and in particular all of the men and women who have worked tirelessly to make the Cayman Islands one of the best vacation destinations in the world.
“As Minister for Tourism, I am confident that by inclusively working together the strength of our tourism industry will be restored and over time will rebound even stronger than before. I also look forward to once again successfully welcoming visitors to our shores, to see the natural beauty of our Islands and experience our unique culture and heritage.”
However, there are concerns that despite the PACT policy promises, the natural beauty, unique culture and heritage of Cayman continues to be threatened by the foreign investment in tourism development.
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Some of these bars and restaurants XXXX encourage a drinking and drug culture that has ruined the lives of many. The owners and bartenders could care less about you being underage, or if your drink was spiked at their bar, or if you are blacked out on their premises being assaulted. Furthermore, many of these places don’t hire Caymanians in positions where they could earn a living wage! Good riddance to these types of bars if they are forced to close for GOOD.
Yeah, some of them are over run with squalid small time coke dealers who think they are Tony Montana. RCIPS took some action a few years back but the individuals involved got off so lightly that there was no deterrent and nothing changed.
Right, because it’s the bars and businesses that pump drugs into Caymanians.
Unfortunately the bars that cater to the Island’s imported scum, will not be the ones that close. They’re not the ones suffering from lack of tourists.
Hey Cayman! How do you get the energy to run your power grid, food at your grocery stores, fuel for cars?? You DO NOT PRODUCE IT!! You IMPORT IT. Someone had to leave the safety of their house and risk getting COVID. Many of which did. Some died and some lost family members and friends. Just because COVID came these things we all need to survive are still needed.
Why should you take so little risk. It has become very arrogant. As if you are saying to those who produce the things you need that your life is more important.
Why should the world help you when you have a crisis?? If you want to be isolationist, then you should be isolationist when a crisis hits you.
I doubt you will forever avoid COVID.
God bless Cayman I hope you stay well, but your country has lost its mind over COVID.
Well Said!
And for all the arrogant ones that criticised the needs to travel though out this pandemic this is why!
Cayman claims to be a ” Seafarer ” nation what BS that is, If you where you would realise the need for travel to keep the global supply chain happening,
And in the news today, all these rules will bite you all as the worlds global trade routes now have a shortage of staff due to countries like Cayman making it too hard for these people to return to their families for time off.
BUT Yet….Cayman Airways crew travel in and out without restriction.
Two words: Ivan. Paloma.
Think about it.
4.46pm I agree the U.S. airlines don’t believe anything we tell them. Last year the Airport Authority M.D had them cancel all Tuesday flights for 9 successive weeks then a week before the Tuesday closure was to take place
he rescinded his decision. Now we tell them they are welcome to fly in from October this year and several weeks later close our borders until the end of the year.They really must think (in terms of our maritime traditions) they are dealing with a ship of fools.
From Wiki’s entry on the Plato ship of fools allegory:
“There’s the shipowner, larger and stronger than everyone in the ship, but somewhat deaf and rather short-sighted, with a knowledge of sailing to match his eyesight. The sailors are quarrelling among themselves over captaincy of the ship, each one thinking that he ought to be captain, though he has never learnt that skill, nor can he point to the person who taught him or a time when he was learning it. On top of which they say it can’t be taught.”
Sounds absolutely spot on!
The Panton clownshow
Out of touch. Any business owner knows you build the product around the customer. The Honorable Minister acts like tourist are akin to a water faucet…..just turn the handle and they will be back full force. Not even the US airlines take Cayman seriously at this point. Turks & Caicos property sales and visitor count are crushing it. Former Cayman visitors I’m sure. So how ‘ya gonna keep ’em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree’?
https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-records-best-summer-ever-p11967-127.htm
4.46pm I agree the U.S. airlines don’t believe anything we tell them. Last year the Airport Authority M.D had them cancel all Tuesday flights for 9 successive weeks then a week before the Tuesday closure was to take place
he rescinded his decision. Now we tell them they are welcome to fly in from October this year and several weeks later close our borders until the end of the year.They really must think (in terms of our maritime traditions) they are dealing with a ship of fools.
Anyone think for a second that Kenneth has even the tiniest clue what he’s talking about?
Nope. Me neither.
Not even for a nanosecond.
“stronger than before” hahahahahaha
As long as the US CDC card is not accepted as proof of vaccination the number of visitors will be extremely limited. We have already lost high season 20/21 and we are in grave danger of losing the spring break season. It is almost October, trips for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s have already been booked elsewhere. Those who were booked in Cayman have once again been forced to cancel. It is a very short window of time before families start booking March and April spring break trips. If PACT does not set a firm reopening date, drop quarantine restrictions for vaccinated people, and accept the CDC vaccine card as proof of vaccination then spring break season will also be lost.
Maybe partially true, but we ought not to unreasonably expect the foregone 21/22 Winter season to have brought bookings, normal activities, and mobility anywhere near pre-Pandemic records. CBP, and USA airlines, are not letting unvaccinated Americans travel internationally after Nov. Franken-vaxed Canadians might not even be accepted in the USA after Nov. Solving bigger first world Delta-wave pandemic problems are not just on the Cayman Islands Government.
3:02pm The restriction on unvaccinated travelers that begins in November applies to visitors not Americans.
Americans have BEEN traveling! Our borders were never closed to us. So many of my friends sent to Aruba & Turks & Caicos this summer. People are back and forth to Mexico and Puerto Rico all the time. A group of friends were in Croatia last week and another group in Italy the week before that.
If you think people aren’t traveling, you are sorely misled!!
Been traveling for 18 months and never stopped.
Cayman is one of the hardest place’s to go!
I notice the reopeners disliking again. Did like all you want that doesn’t change the reality.
What…. the really that we are not open and in the end we will all loose out not just the tourism sector.
I travel at Christmas, February and April school break. I book them all over my Columbus Day break every year ( October 11 this year). If Cayman was open without quarantine and the CDC card was accepted, Cayman would be at least one or two of these trips.
I will not travel anywhere with a quarantine as each vacation is only a week long. I am fully vaccinated.
Why the dislikes? Because the border is closed? Or because no travel anywhere with a quarantine?
Because our anti-vaxxers don’t like you.
Or any contact with uncomfortable truths.
2:12 You are right! I had to cancel several trips but most irritating was canceling my trip for this fall after the change from October 14. I was considering re-booking it for March break but am hesitant because of the constant back and forth. I’m leaning towards going somewhere else instead because I want a sure thing.
Last paragraph is spot on, whaynatural beauty… Government delusional.
With out Island still not open what will the kids do for Christmas that are overseas at school? If you only have 2 weeks and have to quarantine for 8 days then what? that will be a lost of money to come back for a few days, and christmas will be over. Most have to leave the schools because they are all close for the holidays, so we as parents need to no what to do, some don’t have US familys so they have to come home. Mr. Bryan what should we do in regards to this?
Well, there aren’t a lot of choices here: mail Santa that Christmas is being held elsewhere this year. Then book your ghost flight tickets.
CIG should open up the pensions to another 20% for those who need help with all the extraordinary travel/hotel/kennel/quarantine costs that have come with this pandemic curveball.
My family is in a similar situation. CDC vaccination cards, no hope of a QR code in our state, 2 weeks off school only, quarantine requirements in Cayman would include Christmas Day, and kids have a quarantine/testing requirement after international travel before they return to campus. As things stand they would spend 12 of their 16 day break in quarantine. We have been left with no choice but to spend Christmas elsewhere as a family as we can’t wait for CIG to take decisive action. Flights home for Thanksgiving week have already been cancelled by the airline.
None of us could care less about masks/social distancing/PCR testing requirements, all of which are in principle entirely sensible and how the rest of the world is operating (some of the specific detail not so much). We would just have liked to spend the holidays together at home.
I accept that there will be some reading this post who consider that a small price to pay to keep the island relatively free from covid, and that was probably fair comment until recently. We have done longer stints in quarantine previously without (much) complaining.
As I have said before CIG has done a tremendous job in protecting public health, and I am sure our society is extremely grateful. But with our vaccination rate so high, and as a country whose way of life depends so materially on the ability to come and go, I honestly don’t know what we are waiting for at this stage.
Perhaps an EUA for the vaccine for 5-11 year olds? Although query how quickly we can get our hands on the smaller doses for kids if our vaccines are being provided by the UK.
A well managed national asset will always
Be attractive. Our sea, beaches and cayman kind will always be a place sought. But as a matter of national priority, cayman citizens, their safety and economic empowering must stand proud in any decision. In any business there are reorganization and there after regrowth.
You clearly have never travelled outside your little cayman bubble. Cayman is nothing special. There are many safe and beautiful caribbean destinations to vacation to that are BETTER and CHEAPER than Cayman, and have been open to tourists for over a year. BTW, I’m Caymanian.
You’re right in all aspects, however, Cayman does have something special, not sure what it is, but it’s a place everyone always wants to come back to for some reason.
Zero income tax. And the highest pay rates you can find (increasingly offset by the cost of living, mind you)
Maybe ‘used to want to come back to’, Cayman burst it’s own bubble before this virus, the virus is just showing the raw truth of the human concrete virus.
Caymankind? I believe that asset is long gone.
We’re no longer sort out as most “Caymanians” are now from Jamaica. A fact most of you don’t seem to understand.
The Jamaican baby daddy have been very busy turning Cayman into Jamaica.
Half of Seven Mile Beach is underwater and the part that isn’t is dominated by high-rise condos and hotels. Our sea is afflicted with a deadly coral disease and diminishing marine life. Caymankind has been replaced by a palpable hatred of expats that is partially racist. Our young men are increasing turning out to be thug criminals with no productive ambitions in life other than gaining material things anyway they can. As far as being well-managed… virtually nothing in the public sector is well managed. Given all of this, I can only assume you are delusional and should seek a mental health professional.
The tunnel on West Bay Rd. Did me in. I was starting not to enjoy the vibe on the beach seeing cement high rise buildings and more traffic, but that tunnel….that was the end. Now, I haven’t been back in a couple years and not rushing back, but will probably visit in a few years when you all finally open.
Want to explain how the current policy is economically empowering Caymanians? Or how reopening will endangerthe safety of vaccinated caymanians?
Stand down! Nothing left to guard.
Tourism Minister? Why the hell would we have a Tourism Minister? To do what exactly?
The PACT Govt’ is now considered a total failure , what a diss-appointment to these islands ? They had a great opportunity to turn around the situation until they panicked on the handful of positive cases that the H.S.A has managed very well. Any visitors we had a chance of getting back will just say No thank you. At least we have the financial industry & condo real-estate / strip mall projects to keep the money flowing .
How much is he being paid?
Too much
12.06pm Salary range for a Minister is $174,000 to $212,000 plus a “constituency allowance” of $96,000 all CI$. They also get free coffee courtesy of a major distributor.
Is this the same tourism minister who can’t travel to the States due to his drug convictions? Asking for a friend. What an advert for the island!
To add Irony to the Insult, quite fitting the tourism minister is unable to enter the U..S. As a tourist , due to being on the judicial restricted list.
It will take YEARS before tourism returns to close to what it was. Cayman tourists have already moved on and found nicer and cheaper places to visit that don’t have IDIOTIC travel policies. Such as TCI for example.
https://suntci.com/turks-and-caicos-islands-experience-recordbreaking-summer-for-tourist-arri-p6697-129.htm
https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/turks-caicos-tourist-arrivals-setting-record-pace.html
Decades.
Kenneth is so clueless… “Happy Tourism Day to all the people I put out of work and business” was missing from his speech!
The government claims they are making decisions based on science, please tell me where a virus will fully incubate in 5 or 7 days. If we want to reopen the recommended science is to “follow is herd immunity”, not tinkering with isolation times, we saw a case yesterday that tested positive long after 7 days, so if our goal is to let Covid slowly out into the community, just say so, and stop having a panic attack every time there are a couple cases. The seven day isolation for travelers guarantees one thing! We are going to have community spread. We have a government that’s afraid if it’s own shadow. They let Covid loose in the community, then they panicked, blamed us for being complacent, and went back to strategies that would supposedly keep it out, but those strategies are also flawed!
Lets call a spade a spade. What do these “ministers” have that will make them the best persons and capable of doing these jobs? The right education? The years of experience? The business and commercial influences? Anything? They are basically at a intern level in my opinion. I just can’t understand how we got to giving so much ‘Novices’ these high rolls in our Government. If it was Mr Panton’s company he would have never have hired them for jobs without proper credentials, experience etc. I’m all for giving young Caymanians a chance but they must work their way up and not just be given the helm of this ship being a messman.
They are the voice of the people.
Make of that what you will.
Amateur hour at the GAB. This is what happens when you barter away Ministries for votes, without regard for qualifications , education, and experience. Wayne I hope you can sleep at night. You sold your soul for power and screwed Cayman in the process.
He has in fact sub contracted running the country to the UDP.
You should FOI all the “consultants “ they have brought in already if you want a good laugh.
They hire “consultants” not only to do the work for them, but also to have someone to blame, and kick off the Island if things go wrong.
Care to share what you know?
This is the continuation of the saga that Alden started when he made a deal with the devil to maintain his power as premier and allowed him to
control the unity government. You should be pointing to former premier.
Alden kept him in check.
Cayman Islands are going to get just what it deserves. A big lesson on why you do not want to kill off your own economy and just how long it takes to restart it. P.S. If you really want to know how long ask the hotels and restaurants that are all now closing. They actually know. They will be the ones doing all the work and spending all the money again to get ready to reopen if they can. Remember the Lighthouse restaurant? Rum point? the Wharf restaurant that just celebrated its 30th year? Ask them if they can now afford to reopen in Cayman Islands or would they rather just move?
You’re spot on 7:21, – ‘open the borders doesn’t mean put the key in your door and carry on from where we left off 20 mths ago. Besides any hard assets that are fully paid for it’s pretty much starting from the ground up again. A small business shut for this period of time will be lucky if we opened borders tomorrow to be making money in 2-3 yrs time. A massive amount of investment is going to be required to restart and the question is certainly being asked ‘is it worth it ?’
Rum Point and the Wharf are not closing permanently…yet let’s hope. I could never understand how Lighthouse managed to keep the lights on even when tourists were on island. Perhaps cause it was the only kind of decent place on that end of the island?
Caymankind at it’s finest I see.
Huh?
Being Caymankind also means being honest
Want to see tourism rebound? You might want to set a real date and really open the border! That might help the cause.
I’m not so sure it will ever rebound, what is there actually to come here for when you think about it realistically? The beaches have almost gone, there’s nothing in town anyway (and never was). Not sure wondering around town aimlessly looking for BK or KFC is worthwhile trip.
All inclusive resorts inbound. You heard it here. Why bother spending on regenerating the local economy when you can just pile 1000s of tourism into each 10 story resort and charge a fee for that. Density is where the cash will be.
The days of tourists wandering around the island from their low level condos are going to be a thing of the past.
And the prices are outrageous since the hurricanes hit the other islands and Cayman thought they could charge 3x the price. Lots of repeat guests started to not be able to justify the prices back then and started looking elsewhere. Then, covid hit. Now, people are just going elsewhere and not looking back.
Cayman being closed and keep changing dates not helping.
Wandering around town is way too risky these days, who wants to get shot/stabbed/mown down by a drink driver?!
remains confident the industry will eventually “rebound stronger than before” — where does he get his data from to support this?
Kenneth basing statements on data??? or facts for that matter??
More canoists!
fool….does he know most other jusidictions are planning on 4-6 year of tourism industry recovery..?
cig blew their chance….and have killed 21/22 high season.
KB said a whole lot of nothing.
Standard.
Kenneth is in over his head. He can’t handle this and it shows.
Has he ever had a job?
Maybe as a supervisor, let alone a manager, or department head.
Turks and Caicos tourism board says, Thanks Cayman!
until the Tourists go there and then well, it’s not Cayman!
And what a refreshing breath of fresh air (literally *Cough* dump) that will be! New adventures! New restaurants! New everything.
Cayman is not the end all and be all.
Maybe a Tourism Minister who can go off island would know this fact.
All good and well. But can the Tourism Minister MP. Mr. Bryan answer these 2 questions.
1.) Will.the tourism stipend be increased to CI$2,000.00 a month, and will us the displaced tourism Caymanian workers get a double payment of CI$2,000.00 for December?
2.) Can we get an answer to why Hampton by Hilton, Mr. DART newest hotel, former Comfort Suites is staffed with mostly work permit holders and not displaced Caymanian tourism workers?
I remember when it was purchased, it was said publicly former staff would be given preference. Sounds like same old thing from last PPM Government. Full of promises to Caymanians.
Displaced tourism workers aren’t going to take positions held by wp holders while the government is paying them to sit at home. Fact.
You will get 1)if pensioners are allowed more than 1,000 a month. You can get another job if you try, unlike other countries Cayman does not employ 60+ even if willing and able.
What about those of us that landed tourism jobs when the job fairs was happening in June and July because we had an opening date as 14 th October now we can’t get stipend and our jobs are being canceled . They just don’t know what they are doing and simply don’t care their pockets and bank accounts are full.
Well said! Government should reopen the stipend program again since they aren’t willing to open the borders.
This hotel never closed .. so staff was always there … why would they hire new staff if the borders are “closed” ???
“As your government, we recognise the vital role that tourism plays in creating jobs, attracting foreign investments, driving the development of critical infrastructure, and promoting trade across multiple sectors in our economy,” he said.
He should have also said…In the meantime we have offered up our tourism industry to Turks & Caicos and other Easter Caribbean islands.
Stop playing number 7 every week and get the borders opened.
Kill Cayman Kenny!
If anybody is going to kill in Cayman it is the unvaccinated.
Tourism would rebound for Christmas if the border would reopen with a FIRM date (with acceptable notice so our tourists could book with confidence) , NO quarantine for those vaccinated and the get rid of the digital vaccination procedure which is not available in the US (80% of the tourist base) and accept the CDC vaccination card which the rest of the world does.
Stop the madness counting covid case that are not amounting to hospitalizations and get on with it.
I don’t think tourists would book here for Christmas even if PACT set a firm reopening date. They will assume the date will be changed, just as it has been over and over again.
What a joke.
July 2020 Turks and Caicos opens with 60% occupancy.
Over 12 months later we are still not open and Turks and Caicos is booming!
We will struggle to get the people back now.
I hear you Mr Bryan but I’m not really listening anymore
Not much mention of “his GTC people”. Has Kenny gained a seat with the elite power mongers ? Seems he has found a high horse to ride somewhere
We need Moses yesterday!!!!!
We began by making rope and selling turtles, and PACT’s cowardice assures we will return to making rope and selling turtles. It will take a very long time to restart and no Caymanian will be immune from the economic pain. This is a home made calamity and the longer we stay closed the more likely no PACT members will ever be re-elected
There are no more turtles to sell and most of the thatch trees used to make rope have been chopped down to make way for development. There aren’t enough fish to even feed our own population, so we better start making a lot more rum cakes because there’s not much else we can do – unless the world is in the market for misguided hubris.
Eventually. And at what point does this “eventually” become a reality? As soon as the borders open I expect there are going to be a lot of cases coming to light, so is there going to be another panic and reintroduction of restrictions? This is becoming ridiculous; get on with it.
United Airlines has now followed American and cancelled all of their Cayman Houston flights for the rest of the year. They were to start beginning of November.
Thanks Wayne.
Awesome. Let’s stay safe.
United has canceled flights from NYC airports through “at least February”
It’s getting worse with every post. Planes basically not flying in now till after spring break. People will already be booking summer travel.
Well of course he’s going to say that. He’s the bloody Tourism Minister, isn’t he?
What else is he going going to say?
“WELL, ALL HOPE IS LOST. TOURISM IS DEAD. WE’RE HOOPED”!!!
???
#November 15th
#Oct1
Yesterday
My family has traveled to Cayman over the Christmas holidays for the past 15 years ( minus the last 2), and we were booked for this year, but now we are going to Turks & Caicos. The reopening plan kept getting delayed and put on hold, plus the quarantine and the not acceptance of our CDC cards pushed us elsewhere.
Btw- we are all vaccinated.
You should have chosen another island IMO but hope to see you again!
We have been to T&C before. The beaches are beautiful- our main reason for travel in December. Weather should be sunny and warm. No quarantine. Accept our vaccination card. Got decent air/ hotel prices. Covid protocol easy to follow. We will be together as a family.
Yes, we will return to Cayman someday when island opens without quarantine and they accept our CDC card…& of course the hotel/ air price.
When it rebounds make sure it is more upscale, encourages longer stays, employs Caymanians in meaningful careers and includes NO mass market cruise ships.
Amen
Caymanians don’t want to work in tourism. Prefer working in Government. That in a nutshell is the problem.
or rather they prefer ‘being’ in government, not working.
Why the hate for cruise ship passengers? They spend money in the local economy and leave.
They spend 15$ on 3 water bottles and then leave. The majority of the money from any excursions they might book goes to the cruise ships not local businesses. Less cruise pax would make the stay-over guests experience much more enjoyable as well our own quality of life.
Buying a few T-shirts, beers and sodas does not do much for the local economy Bobo.
“meaningful carrers” ??? Aka management… so I have a middle management job (such as food and beverage manager, or procurement manager) at a hotel and I am to employ a Caymanian with no experience, no qualification, no training … other than “who ya faah” ???
#RollsEyes not in 2021
You have had 30 years to identify and train Caymanians up through the ranks. You did not, and many in your industry have lied and covered up to prevent advancement of locals. If you have no place for Caymanians, then Cayman has no place for you.
You know, my family is not “upscale”, but we have traveled to your island a couple times a year for the last 18 years. We stay a week at a time. We eat out 3x a day. We rent a car. We dive. Are you telling us that you do not want us to visit any more?
It doesn’t need a genius to realise our tourism industry will rebound once the borders are reopened.We need to know when!
The borders are open. You just have to be willing to quarantine.
Quarantine then spend the remaining few days dodging being shot or mowed down by a drink driver. Great holiday, Cayman!
That’s not open!
The rest of the Caribbean is open and that’s where people go.
I will make sure to come down for my 7 day holiday and quarantine for 7 days. I will stare at the 4 walls of my expensive hotel, order expensive food 3x a day, and not enjoy any of the local culture. Then, I will head home. Thanks for the wonderful holiday. I will make sure to tell all my family and friends the great time I had.
No thanks.
I am no genius.
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Cayman-Islands-warns-owner-to-restore-abandoned-resort
You’re certainly not a genius, that article is from 2009. Do try and keep up!
Point being, 12 years after that article was written, the speedy rebound and the reopening of that hotel has yet to happen.
Patience!