CTO Chief Outlines the State of Caribbean Tourism
Tourism leaders in several key Caribbean destinations are working to extend growing land-based and cruise ship arrivals by re-developing infrastructure, supporting new resort properties and promoting sustainable tourism initiatives, said officials at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s State of the Industry Conference in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands this week.
Government tourism officials provided a series of updates Tuesday on their islands’ land-based and cruise ship tourist arrival numbers, outlining new tourist infrastructure and hotel and resort development projects.
The Cayman Islands is working earnestly to re-develop its tourism infrastructure even as it enjoys record land and cruise ship arrivals, said Rosa Harris, director of tourism at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT).
Indeed, the Cayman Islands hosted 861,517 cruise visitors between January and June of this year, an 8.6 percent increase over 2013 and the fourth-highest total among CTO-traced destinations. “We have seen a significant increase year-over-year since 2009. We ended last year up 7.4 percent over 2012,” Harris said.
The country’s tourism success comes as officials seek to rebuild its tourism infrastructure. The government is in the midst of an expansion of Owen Roberts International Airport, which currently operates at double its 500,000-person capacity during peak periods.
CIDOT is also in the midst of a project to build a cruise ship terminal. Although it is among the world’s most popular cruise destinations, Cayman has no pier or terminal for large ships. Officials are currently engaged in an environmental impact assessment that will precede construction of a new pier and passenger terminal.
Construction is also underway on a 263-room Kimpton Hotel property, along with an as-yet unnamed 208-room hotel on the site of a former Hyatt hotel. Harris said a luxury resort is also is also planned for Cayman’s Bodden Town district.
Specifically, Seaborne Airlines has established new interline service with American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Jet Blue and United Airlines. She said the destination has added 22,000 new seasonal and permanent airline seats within the past year.
The U.S Virgin Island has also launched improvements at Cyril E. King airport, including a complete renovation of the baggage claim area, a new restaurant area, new automated signage, new concession spaces and a new welcome booth. Guest greeters wearing distinctive purple shirts have also been deployed to assist arriving passengers.
New developments in the territory will include a new Margaritaville property on the site of a former Renaissance resort that will open in February with 75 rooms, the initial phase in a project that will ultimately include 220 rooms, said Nicholson Doty. The Westin St. John is engaged in a $50 million renovation, including refurbished public and meeting spaces and restaurants. Also, the Ritz-Carlton has commenced a “multi-million dollar renovation” said Hamilton, which includes enhanced guest rooms and public areas.
Source: Travel Pulse
