🌴 Cayman Islands Tourism Minister sets conservative visitor target for 2024

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced at the Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum that the Cayman Islands had exceeded its original 2023 visitor target of 80% of 2019's figures. The total number of visitors to the islands by air and sea last year was 429,284, which is 85% of 2019's record-breaking numbers. However, Bryan has set a conservative target for 2024, aiming to reach 95% of 2019 numbers rather than matching that year's arrivals. The minister emphasized that returning to 2019 numbers is a benchmark, not a ceiling, and growth in visitor arrivals will continue incrementally, driven by increases in room stock and airlift. 📊

Despite not yet fully recovering visitor numbers, the Cayman Islands Government has seen a significant increase in revenue from accommodation tax, reaching a record $46.5 million in 2023. This figure is more than double what the government expected to collect. Bryan highlighted this as an example of quality over quantity in the tourism sector. However, he is not predicting a return to 2019 arrival numbers, setting a target revenue from accommodation tax of $40 million for this year, increasing to $44 million in 2025. 🏨

On the other hand, cruise arrival figures are not expected to return to their 2019 peak. Several cruise lines have decided not to bring their mega ships to the islands due to the lack of a tender service for passengers. Bryan acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of adapting and rethinking possibilities to stay relevant as a cruise destination. He also highlighted the need for a balanced approach that supports both stayover and cruise tourism, ensuring the success of Caymanian enterprises in both sectors. 🚢