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CITA is an association that is committed to supporting the tourism industry and it's member businesses through Government Relations (lobbying) and through initiatives that will drive the industry forward and meet the goals of the country. By working closely with Department of Tourism, CITA is able to contribute on behalf of it's membership towards the marketing, sales and promotional efforts that support the destination. |
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| 1. Sustain Tourism Arrivals from both segments Stay-over and Cruise |
| Increase in a way that serves our destinations product and goals of appealing to a discerning customer --with quality, care and authenticity at the top of our list. In the past, the economy of the Cayman Islands has enjoyed strength from being able to rely on two industries for support: finance and tourism. However, tourist arrivals (from both the cruise and stay-over segments) are in great decline and action is necessary from the Cayman Islands Government (CIG). The CIG (by which we are including the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Tourism and other Government Departments, as well as the related agencies and authorities must work with CITA and others to assure we can accommodate the needs of Cruise Lines, of Airlines and of our Member Businesses to achieve the Tourism's overall needs for sustained annual arrivals of quality stay-over guests and cruise guests. |
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| 2. Improve Infrastructure |
Cruise Infrastructure - Attract and Retain our Cruise Tourism Partners and Guests. CIG must work to complete the EIA for new berthing facilities as quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly as possible. This is a highly time-critical issue and the only way to maintain cruise arrivals is to create a responsible solution to encourage the Cruise Lines to include the Cayman Islands on their future itineraries. A proper berthing facility that has taken into consideration the most environementally, socially and economically responsible location and design is critical to allow future visits from modern cruise ships and to improve the quality for the existing visitor -- and in turn the average length of stay and amount spent per passenger. We must work together to improve the cruise guests experience creating one that expresses our authentic Caymanian product so that guests choose to return to the Cayman Islands again either by sea or by air.
Airport Infrastructure - Improve Airlift, Airport Experience, and Infrastructure. Attract Airlift; and make it easier for guests to choose the Cayman Islands. CIG must prioritize its efforts at the Owen Robert's Airport reconstruction and evaluate the order of the phased development giving adequate consideration to the importance of the runway extension being expedited. Prioritizing airport improvements that will enhance both the visitor experience and the attractiveness to airline partners who already, or may wish to serve this market. All efforts need to be made to ensure that the destination maintains the airlift needed to support both pillars of the economy. We need to entice more airline service to the Cayman Islands by assuring that planes of varying sizes can land safely and can operate efficiently. Further, CIG and all tourism stake-holders must commit to support Cayman Airways longer-range planning in its endeavor to grow the market through expansion to new gateways such as Washington, D.C. and Panama. |
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| 3. Market our diverse product & Increase Revenue for businesses |
| Increase bookings for smaller properties and in turn bring more revenues to all businesses in the tourism industry. DOT and CITA must continue to work towards the completion and implementation of the Cayman Islands online booking reservation system in order to increase occupancies at Condo's, Villas and smaller properties throughout the Cayman Islands. By offering an affordable solution for these accommodations to be booked brings a solution for our local partners while at the same time speaking to the demands of today's consumer who wants to book direct and have a range of accommodation types accessible to them, online, all the time. As a destination, CIG must work with all tourism partners to make it easier and more affordable for our guests to choose the Cayman Islands and market these various options. |
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| 4.Lower the Cost of Doing Business and Encourage Investment in Alternative Energy |
| CITA is determined to push for net metering from the Caribbean Utilities Company, and must have the support from CIG to work more proactively to drive down the cost of doing business. In this current economy we must not stop marketing and promoting our product...nor is it a time to lower the quality of our service that make our Islands competitive in the travel industry. It is time to exercise the agility of a small country and put into effect the policies and plans that support alternative energy and environmentally responsible development. Net Metering is just one of these critical issues: it is the only way to encourage Member Businesses to invest in alternative energy.(Without a broad investment in alternative energy throughout the three Cayman Islands, our future costs of energy will make us wholly uncompetitive in the future.It is only a matter of time before we are once again faced with increased oil prices. The Cayman Islands needs more competition or better policy and regulation in the areas of insurance, banking, shipping, gasoline, propane and other products and services whose costs are increasing at rates faster than the market can absorb. |
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| 5. Define and Fulfill a Development Plan for the Cayman Islands |
| As the National Tourism Management Policy (NTMP) clearly sets out an environmentally responsible tourism plan ---CIG needs to come on board in all aspects and give this the attention it deserves. CIG must define what kinds of developments should be built and where they should be built taking into consideration healthier responsible development that will enable growth in the Cayman Islands whilst minimizing the environmental impact. Create a plan to assure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the Cayman Islands for its people and for our guests. |
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| 6. Enhance our Tourism Product with Authenticity |
| CITA continues to support efforts to enhance our tourism product with both physical assets and initiatives and with human capitol development. This needs to remain a priority for our industry and our country (with other industry's included) in order to maintain competitiveness and increase our market share. |
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