Having just returned from a family vacation in Maui I would like to make the following comments. I wish to preface my comments by saying that I have the greatest respect for The Honourable Charles Clifford and for Pilar Bush. I believe they are doing the best job possible for developing Cayman's tourism product with the resources they presently have. My observations are meant only as another point of view and to hopefully stimulate proactive thinking.
The tourism industry in The Caribbean region is just going to become more and more competitive. I also firmly believe that when Cuba opens up, and Cuba will open up, that Cuba will affect the whole region, not just Cayman, for many years.
I believe Cayman needs to develop 400-500 thousand stay over tourists a year and balance the number of cruise passengers to relieve congestion and (make) Cayman a productive stable economy.
In Hawaii there is a close working relationship between all stake holders. The local government, the department of tourism, the planning department and all the private associations, hotel, restaurant, retail, watersports etc.
The result is a clean refined tourism product. The airport is clean and well managed. There are DOT greeters to answer questions and assist arriving tourists. There was a double highway down to our hotel. Similar to the bypass project, except, it is divided with both lanes going in the same direction. It relieves cross traffic and congestion. Imagine West Bay Road only going south and the Bypass only going north. For the same price as a single room in The Westin Cayman we had a two room ocean view suite with two TV's, mini kitchen and huge porch. There were 'greeters" who welcomed us and directed us to check-in and provided a map of the hotel grounds.
There was a childrens and adult pool area. You had as many beach towel's as you wished. Everyday twice a day we had cool wet lemon scented face clothes to wipe down your face, hands and neck. Every single staff member said "hello, welcome, Aloha" to every guest every day. There was a walk way, a deck, and a side walk on the ocean side following the sea. Every night hundreds of guests and strollers would walk miles to other restaurants and night spots.
Lachlan MacTavish
