Does the Cozumel economy benefit more from divers or pod people?

[Harro10]

A question for the Cozumel experts. And by benefit I mean actual Cozumel residents not corporations based in other places then Cozumel.
I started wondering about this after reading about the large Carnival "port" that is supposed to be built on Roatan.

 

[Missdirected]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=182582

 

[ggunn]

A question for the Cozumel experts. And by benefit I mean actual Cozumel residents not corporations based in other places then Cozumel.
I started wondering about this after reading about the large Carnival "port" that is supposed to be built on Roatan.

Hard to say; divers contribute to largely different segments of the economy than do the cruseros. The cruisers mostly don't eat and sleep in the local restaurants and hotels, and divers generally don't shop much in the terminal areas and diamond/tanzanite shops.

 

[jlyle]

There was a recent survey/study done in the Caymans.

"A recent Deloitte & Touche study showed 86% of total visitor spending came from stayover visitors and only 14% was contributed by cruise visitors."

Cozumel is probably comparable.

Bottom line, cruisers spend a fraction of what the hotel guests do. On the other hand, dock fees and head taxes are a huge source of revenue for the local governments.

 

[diver88]

last june06 when i was there a taxi driver and a business owner both told me the cruisers seemed to be "running off" the divers before wilma. as of june 06 they both said it looked as if the divers were coming back due to the problems associated with cruise ships (at that time) and they were all very happy to see the divers returning. their reasons were that divers added way more to the economy, and the divers were mostly friendly and loved the island and interacted with it. the cruisers bought trinkets but added nothing to the island, they would rather have the divers was the general feeling. what i was told...... they may have told the cruisers the same.... but i dont think so, diver88

 

[k8brandt]

I have found that most divers are very conscientious of the environment, it is instilled in us while dive training. Respecting the local culture is second hand to that, we want to come back to just the way it was. "Cruisers" tend to be trinket shopping while we are shopping for everything,, from groceries to real estate?

 

[BurBunny]

Yes, but if it hadn't been for the cruise critters after Wilma, a lot of people on the island would have fared far worse. At least the cruise lines made a commitment and came back quickly while even now there are divers staying away.

Beyond the trinkets and jewelry and such, they also use taxis, take tours, go to beach clubs, etc. No, they don't spend on hotels and as much on restaurants, but they do contribute as well.

There's a reason the local governments on the islands court the cruise business. I'm sure divers contribute far more, but it's not an either-or proposition.

 

[Hemlon]

I like diving and I like cruising.

Thank goodness I don't have to pick just one!

 

[diver88]

you know, i suppose you could ask 100 people and come up with a different answer and i dont have data on the economic impact of divers vs cruisers. i am sure that the overall island through governmental collection of fees associated from the cruise lines benefits greatly. the average folks i was refering to pretty much feels the cruisers descend on the island dont really buy that much and then they are gone. they said the divers seem to really love the place and care about the island's well being in general, and they appreciate that. i am sure both contribute to the vitality of the island but i have many aqaintences that no longer wish to go to cozumel because the cruisers are changing the flavor of the island. not particularly my feelings, i'd go ten times a year if i were able, heck i'd move there. you know, i wonder who are buying all those expensive condos that are going up, cruisers or divers???? diver88

 

[cowboyneal]

I have talked to many people on the island about this very issue over the last 10 years or so. The biggest fear when they were considering the cruise ship pier was that divers would be completely turned off. The economy in Cozumel is still heavily dependent on diving - it employs most of the people in the dive ops and hotels and restaurants, none of which are being used by cruise people. Most of the business owners I know still fear that 'over stoppage' by cruise lines is going ot ruin our beloved island.

Several people mentioned the big issues - the most important being that (most) divers are part of the culture, are pleasant people, interact with and respect the community.

CN