Cruise Ship Pier at the Turtle Farm?

[Cave Diver]

How much does Cayman really need tourism? Can it get by happily with the offshore banking industry? (Just asking,don't know the answer to that)

Seriously doubt it. Banking restrictions are getting tighter and it's no longer the haven it once was. If some of the current initiatives get pushed through it will be even worse. Restaurants, dive shops, duty free shops taxis, hotels, etc. are all dependent on tourism.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Here are some figures about tourisn in Grand Cayman:

Tourism Industry
The Cayman Islands population is approximately 52,000. Tourism accounts for more than 70 percent of the gross national product. Between 75 and 80 percent of the islands' residents work in the tourism industry. The Cayman Islands includes three sister islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman is the largest island and most of the tourism is centered there.

Here is the link :

Cayman Islands Tourism | Travel Tips - USAToday.com

Also to get a Bank Account in the Cayman Islands you basically have to jump through hoops if you are not a resident or on a work visa.I own on island and the process for aquiring a Bank Account took about 3 months.

 

[billinwilliamston]

There are a lot of natives who see the proposals as potentially providing "good" jobs for Caymanians. The problem with tourism is that most of the jobs are not that great. Yes, a housekeeper job is better than no job at all, but compared with a construction job working on one of the new cruise ship docks or the east end seaport or the medical tourism hospital, it's not so good. If my best employment option was dealing with other people's dirty sheets and toilets for 8-12 hours a day, I might be intrigued by outlandish sounding schemes too.

 

[chibracdiver]

Caymanians, in general, do not enjoy working in the tourism/hospitality field. Many feel that it is below them. They would rather work at a bank in the air conditioned comfort being Asst. to the Assoc. Vice President of Nickels and Dimes. Most of these construction jobs will not be filled by Caymanians. This is simply a lie being floated by government so they can get their kickbacks/bribes from the developers.

Banking in Cayman is radically changing by the day. Increased international competition and stricter guidelines by the IRS have put Cayman in jeopardy in this industry.

Government is selling their soul for short term gains to the cruise ship industry but like spoiled little children that industry will pick up and move on if they do not get their way.

Grand Cayman is spiraling out of control due to a lack of vision, a lack of leadership and rampant corruption. I pray that some have seen what has become of Grand and vow to never let the Sisters stumble down the same path.

When the green trumps the blue, everyone loses.

 

[caymaniac]

I'll never forget one particular trip to Little Cayman, when we finished another excellent diving trip we headed back to Grand Cayman and since my wife and I were the only passengers the pilot asked me if I wanted the co-pilot seat in the twin engine prop plane (this is before 9-11). I consented and was enthralled with the view, upon our approach to Grand Cayman the pilot went on to marginalize those that were digging out the mangrove so that "progress" could be made on Grand Cayman in Governors Harbor. I felt sorry for him as well as those that know how much the diving has disintegrated on the west side of GC due to sewage debris. How much more diving will disappear with this advance for jobs and business, at some point it will destroy diving in certain areas and the reef will be destroyed for a life time or more.