Grand Cayman Asks "Where Are The Cruise Ships?"

In a report report issued by Cayman Net News, businesses catering to tourists in George Town, Grand Cayman say they are suffering due to the decline in cruise ship visitors to the island.

Unfortunately, Grand Cayman experienced more than a 30 percent loss in cruise ship business during 2007. The Cayman Islands' Department of Tourism has released discouraging figures: 70 cruise ships called at Grand Cayman in November 2006, but the November 2007 schedule only included 53 ship calls. December figures are just as dismal with 72 cruise ships due to stop compared with 92 in 2006. That translates into 100,000 fewer visitors for November and December 2007 compared to 2006. On days when there are no ships in port, some George Town businesses report a decline from thousands of dollars in sales per day, to zero.

The bottom line is that weather and the preference for cruising ports-of-call with berthing facilities has hurt Grand Cayman. We love the island and hope things pick up for them.

For the full story, see Cayman Net News.