Cayman Islands to Keep an Eye on Cuba’s Growing Tourism Industry

20 June 2008 1:15am

In response to reports of a planned luxury resort in Cuba, which could cut into Cayman’s travel business, local tourism representatives have called for proactive measures to remain competitive in an expanding market.

According to a 2 June report, Cuba is expected to announce the development of a £275 million luxury golf resort by a British-based company.

Esencia Hotels & Resorts will develop the Carbonera Country Club Resort, the report said, marking the first major investment in Cuba’s tourism industry by a British company, The resort, which is expected to open in 2011, is reportedly one of five golf resorts to be developed in that country.

Trina Christian, Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), pointed out that as Cuba was already attracting tourists from Canada and the UK, there wasn’t an immediate threat to Cayman’s target market. “Rather than see it as a threat (we need to consider) how can we better market the fact that we’re a quick plane trip away (from Cuba),” she said.

Mrs. Christian added that although the local tourism product is different to Cuba’s, it was important to watch the development of their luxury market and the opening up of the Cuban market to the US.

Emma Graham-Taylor, Director of CITA’s allied sector, agreed there wasn’t an immediate threat but cautioned against complacency. “Land-based tourism in Cuba is not a new thing, although nothing like ours,” she said.

Highlighting the importance of remaining competitive, she added, “The Cayman Islands need to be careful not to become complacent with land tourism.”

Sean Tipton, Press Officer for ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) did not expect the opening up of Cuba to have a significant impact on the number of UK visitors to these islands.

The ABTA spokesman added that there were already considerably more British tourists going to Cuba - with about 200,000 in 2006 - compared to approximately 12,000 visiting the Cayman Islands during the same year.