NewsACT Cayman Shores Up the Truth on Cruise Tourism, Leaves CPR Adrift
GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS (February 12, 2025) – As the debate over the proposed cruise berthing facility intensifies ahead of the April 30 referendum and general elections, The Association for Cruise Tourism in the Cayman Islands (ACT) is pushing back against what it calls false and misleading claims by CPR Cayman and other anti-cruise tourism groups.
ACT Cayman maintains that the new cruise berthing facility is not about increasing mass tourism but about elevating the visitor experience, ensuring economic sustainability, and securing the long-term viability of Cayman’s tourism industry.
According to ACT Executive Program Manager Ellio Solomon, modernizing Cayman’s cruise infrastructure is essential to maintaining its competitive edge. “Just as we’ve invested in our airport to provide a first-class arrival experience, building piers will allow us to deliver that same world-class service to cruise visitors. It enhances safety, facilitates seamless embarkation and disembarkation, and enables us to attract premium cruise lines that bring high-quality visitors and greater economic benefits to the country.”
Cruise Tourism is Booming – Except in Cayman
The numbers highlight the urgency of investment in cruise infrastructure. Across the Caribbean, cruise tourism is thriving, with most destinations experiencing record-breaking arrivals. Since 2019, the region has seen a 14.3% increase in cruise arrivals. Even among destinations with slight declines, more than 35% are down by less than five percent.
The Cayman Islands, however, is an outlier – experiencing a staggering 41% decline in cruise arrivals since 2019.
The absence of cruise berthing infrastructure is a key factor behind this downturn, creating severe economic and social challenges for local businesses, including retailers, restaurants, and tour operators that rely heavily on cruise passengers. With fewer cruise visitors, the future of tourism and commerce in Cayman is at serious risk.
ACT Rejects CPR’s Fearmongering on the Referendum Process
ACT Cayman has dismissed assertions regarding the referendum process and funding, emphasizing that transparency should apply to all parties involved.
According to ACT, CPR continues to make claims without substantiating them and has repeatedly declined opportunities to engage in open debates. “Before pointing fingers, CPR should lead by example and disclose its own financial records, demonstrating the same transparency it demands of others. ACT is fully prepared to do the same, showing that our support comes from local stakeholders and Caymanian industry professionals who believe in the long-term benefits of modernizing Cayman’s cruise infrastructure.”
Environmental Activists Avoiding Real Debate
ACT also took direct aim at so-called environmental activists opposing the pier, calling them “noisy fringe entities” that do not reflect the true spirit or best interests of the Cayman Islands. The organization argues that these groups actively obstruct much-needed development, harming the very working-class Caymanians they claim to represent.
“These activists run from robust debate on the issues and prefer to throw stones from glass houses,” Solomon stated. “Their job is easy – they simply make statements and ask questions designed to create doubt, without the responsibility or scrutiny of offering real solutions. But Cayman’s future demands more than just criticism; it requires vision, action and investment in long-term progress. Empty rhetoric does nothing to secure economic stability or improve opportunities for our people.”
Shaping Cayman’s Tourism Future: A Call to Action
With the referendum fast approaching, ACT is urging Caymanians to examine the facts and consider the long-term benefits of a sustainable cruise tourism industry. The organization is also calling on the public to support its efforts by donating online at actcayman.com.
The April 30 referendum will determine whether the government moves forward with the cruise berthing facility – a project that could define the future of Cayman’s tourism industry for decades to come.