Tourism
PPM calls for case by case assessment on stipend
(CNS): Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has criticised the PACT Government for its handling of the tourism stipend and its efforts to reduce the number of recipients, as the PPM responded to the government’s last-minute U-turn. Following a backlash from people who were told that they would no longer be receiving the money, the government introduced […]
Labour minister pushes bosses to take on locals
(CNS): Employers will not find it as easy to get work permits approved as they did in the past, Labour Minister Chris Saunders said Thursday, revealing that applications for permits are being increasingly scrutinized. Saying that the PACT Government is committed to a ‘Cayman first’ policy and enforcing this part of the immigration law, the […]
Minister hints at imminent return of cruise ships
(CNS): Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has said the COVID-19 testing regime was presenting major hurdles for the return of visitors, and the “significant policy change” dropping the requirement for vaccinated travellers to do repeated tests will boost the ongoing efforts to increase stay-over tourism.
Ministry begins cutting tourism workers’ stipend
(CNS): More than 600 tourism workers are being trimmed from the list of about 3,000 original recipients of the government’s monthly CI$1,500 stipend, which was created to help them survive after Cayman closed its borders to visitors almost two years ago. But many of those who have returned to work are still receiving only a […]
High tourism hopes for return of CAL’s Denver flight
(CNS): Cayman Airways will re-start its nonstop weekly Saturday flights to Denver, Colorado, from Grand Cayman on 26 February, which, along with the return of several more airlines and routes this month, is fuelling high hopes for the tourism sector. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan stressed the importance of getting the national flag carrier to restart […]
Uncertainty still surrounds return of cruise ships
(CNS): Dealing with the health and safety implications for the return of cruise ships to the Cayman Islands in the coming months dominated discussions between the cruise lines and the tourism ministry last week. But stakeholders are also keen to see other changes rolled out that address daily capacity issues and the sale of excursions […]
DoT using designer leather bags as promo tool
(CNS): The Department of Tourism has taken another unusual turn in its efforts to promote the Cayman Islands to wealthy travellers, working with a Chicago-based luxury leather bag maker. In a press release issued Friday, officials said the department was partnering with the custom leather goods brand, Laudi Vidni, on a unique line of coloured leathers inspired […]
IT millionaire seeks winding up of 7MB resort
(CNS): IT millionaire Jerry Beck, who successfully sued the developers of the Margaritaville Resort (now Palmar) on the West Bay Road, is seeking the winding up of MV Cayman Ltd, which owns the resort. Known as HHG Cayman Ltd when it redeveloped the Old Treasure Island Resort, MV Cayman Ltd is owned by Hugh Hart, […]
Changes to COVID rules under consideration
(CNS): Government has extended the current regulations and restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic but only for one more week. Officials said the Control and Management of Covid-19 Regulations, 2022 and Control of Covid-19 (Travel) Regulations, 2022 are now under review while Cabinet contemplates moving to Phase 5 of the border reopening plan and looks at […]
Air Canada cancels rest of winter flights to Caribbean
(CNS): Air Canada is suspending more than a dozen routes to the Caribbean, including to the Cayman Islands, following new regulations in response to the surge in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada. According to a travel advisory from the airline, the “sun destination” flights will stop from 24 January until 30 April.
Health City filled key gap during lockdown
(CNS): The challenges of getting medical attention during the border closure in 2020 and 2021 were mitigated by Health City Cayman Islands, the management at the East End hospital has said. As the medical facility prepares to break ground on another hospital in Camana Bay and gets ready for the return of medical tourists, the […]
