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Cayman Island And Tourism | ||||
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Cayman Islands News, Articles and InformationOpinion: Protect the coral reefsOf all the issues affecting these Islands, the one that is easiest to forget is the health of our surrounding reefs. Corals around the world are dying and scientists are struggling to find out why so they can stop, or at least slow down, the rate of mortality.Even though most of us don't see the reefs on a day to day basis, this should concern us, since they are the main reason tourists come to the Sister Islands. Should the reefs suffer significant degradation, as is happening in other destinations, our tourist rates will plummet and we will all be affected. Almost all of the people in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman depend in some way directly or indirectly for their livelihoods on tourism, including all those who work at the airport - security and airport staff, Cayman Airways, customs, immigration and fire officers. Dolphin boycott forewarnedThree prominent figures in the dive industry have come together to speak out against the introduction of captive dolphin facilities here, warning the country’s tourism could suffer from it in the long term.President of the Women Divers Hall of Fame and marine environmentalist Martha Watkins Gilkes and pioneer underwater film producer and photographer Stan Waterman had been filming and diving in Cayman for a week on board the M/V Cayman Aggressor. They were joined on Friday by award winning underwater photographer Cathy Church to speak out against captive dolphin facilities. They had been brought together with the help of Keep Dolphins Free in the Cayman Islands group leader Billy Adam. At least two dolphin facilities for West Bay, one at Morgan’s Harbour (Dolphin Cove) and one at the old Turtle Farm site (Dolphin Discovery), have been given permission to set up here subject to certain conditions.
Cayman Islands at risk of climate change says scientistClimate change will affect the Cayman Islands economically with its tourism sector among the areas to be hardest hit, an international scientist said here on Monday 24 July.Dr Pablo Suarez of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Centre on Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness, said Cayman must help in reducing the global crisis. The keynote speaker at the local Red Cross forum addressed the topic "Climate changes, Disaster Preparedness and the future of the Cayman Islands" at its headquarters. "How will Cayman be affected? There will be more risk and more at risk? You are growing so fast, you have more properties exposed to hurricanes and other extreme weather events," he said. "Coral reefs are dying in part because of changing ocean conditions that may affect tourism. Two long held tourism myths exposed - Tourism MinisterTourism and Commerce Minister Hon Charles Clifford last week stated that officials on the Island have been able to wipe out two long held myths in tourism industry.Mr Clifford said the Cayman Islands has proven that cruise visitors are interested in authentic experiences and that cruise tourism and stay-over tourism can co-exist. "A persistent myth about the cruise industry is that people who cruise aren't interested in authentic experiences; I want to assure you that nothing is further from the truth," he said. "Our research shows that 21.2 percent of those who have embarked on our shores this year are already participating in activities to learn about the Caymanian culture." While addressing the Chamber of Commerce on the future of cruise tourism in Cayman, the Minister said stay-over arrivals are booming.
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BARBADOSsBarbados can become the hub of international business in the region for companies coming from Europe, North America and Asia.According to newly-appointed President of the Barbados International Business Association (BIB A) Thomas Sears, the potential is there for future growth in the sector which already employs 4 000 Barbadians, generates 60 per cent of the islands corporate taxes, and also benefits local service providers such as lawyers, accountants, and auditors, a s well as the tourism sector. I see a very prosperous future for Barbados in the area of international business. The opportunities are there for the sector to grow and flourish, but what we need to do is work closely with Government to ensure th a t every element of the experience in Barbados is positive. When you look at other jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and The Bahamas, international business represents about 50 per cent of their economies.
Cayman wants FCCA to lobby US on passportsThe Cayman Islands Government says it is examining ways to facilitate United States (US) citizens who want to visit the Island after 31 December 2006 but do not have a passport.Effective 1 January 2007, US citizens and other nationals entering the United States must have a passport or a specific travel document to gain entry, according to the US Government. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require all travellers, including US citizens, to and from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda to have a passport. Cayman depends on the United States for 40.5 percent of its guests and is only second to Jamaica (58.4 percent) in Caribbean countries hosting American tourists. The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the regional tourism umbrella body, said it is considering an option of reimbursing new US passport holders if other strategies failed. Cayman delegates attend the 'Olympics of the Arts'The Cayman Islands were well represented at the event by representatives of the CI Government and some of the Islands' key cultural organizations. Pictured (l-r) Martyn Bould and Patrick Broderick (CNCF);. Natalie Coleman (NGCI).Among the keynote speakers was South African Judge and Peace activist Albie Sachs, pictured with his wife (far right), Hon Alden McLaughlin and Angela Martins. The third World Summit on Arts and Culture held this year in Newcastle - Gateshead, England, brought together a record number of delegates from around the world. Gathering to discuss the role of culture in regeneration under the theme transforming places, transforming lives were over 500 constituents from 80 countries. The Summit explored three broad types of regeneration through art and culture: physical regeneration and economic regeneration, covering issues concerning creative investment, artists' economies, cultural tourism and the impact of arts on local business, along with the wider social consequences of regeneration and its long-term effects on the identity and pride of the local communities. Each of these themes were well illustrated in the surrounding environment. CITA fears huge blow from US passport issueHospitality sector officials here are lobbying the Ministry of Tourism, fearing the financial crisis that could arise from the "must have passport" rule being implemented in the US.The US Government said it would be compulsory for its citizens and others travelling to the US from the Caribbean to have a passport or a specific travel document from 1 January 2007. One year ago, the George W. Bush administration agreed to push back a previous deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) after lobbying from regional tourism officials. The Cayman Islands Government said it was assessing its options and working with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to come up with a solution. On the eve of the departure of a tourism delegation to the US capital, Washington DC, to lobby for an extension to the 31 December 2006 passport deadline, stakeholders have expressed concerns. Ken Thompson, Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), said members of his organisation were concerned about a possible loss of 60 percent of the US market. |
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