🚢 Cayman Islands considers moving cargo port to boost tourism

Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan has proposed relocating the Cayman Islands' cargo dock as a potential boon for the tourism industry. In a speech at the Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum, Bryan suggested that moving the dock could nearly double the space available for cruise operations and allow the Port Authority to operate during the day. The minister did not specify a new location for the port but indicated that a business case was being developed by KPMG and international design consultants Stantec. 🏗️

While Bryan did not address the potential environmental impact of such a move, he did argue that it could improve the efficiency of import management and alleviate traffic congestion, improving the tourism experience and residents' quality of life. The minister also spoke about the ongoing road building programme, suggesting that it could help disperse tourism activities across Grand Cayman and support the decentralisation of government services, retail, and housing. 🚚

In addition to the proposed port relocation, Bryan outlined the rollout of the Visitor Experience Development Grant, which aims to provide start-up capital to Caymanian entrepreneurs and artisans to develop new visitor experiences. The minister stated that CI$1 million had been allocated across the two-year budget for 2024/25 for this purpose. He emphasised the shift in international tourism trends towards more interactive and experiential tourism, and the importance of developing new enterprises and tourism products. 🌴