🛳️ Cayman Islands to hold referendum on cruise dock construction

The Cayman Islands government has announced plans to hold a referendum on whether to build a new cruise port. The decision comes as the Ministry of Tourism and Ports pushes for a new cargo dock. The referendum, likely to be held before the end of the year, is being positioned separately from the upcoming General Election in April. 🗳️

Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan is in favour of a cruise dock, citing declining cruise passenger numbers and the impact this is having on small business owners dependent on the cruise industry. However, some residents would prefer a reduction in the number and size of cruise ships coming to Grand Cayman. They argue that the government should help renegotiate the proportion of the payment for tours and attractions taken by the cruise lines, which currently take the majority of the profits. 🚢

Since cruise ships returned to the Cayman Islands in 2022 following the end of the pandemic, cruise passenger arrivals have significantly declined. The Cayman Islands cruise sector is predominantly serviced by Caymanian-owned small and micro businesses. The decline in visitor numbers is not only impacting these businesses but also negatively affecting government revenues earned per passenger from departure tax. The government has also noted threats from major cruise lines that passenger numbers will further decline without berthing facilities due to the impracticality of transferring passengers from ship to shore by tender ships. 📉