Hon Charles Clifford Tourism Minister

Little Cayman is open for business following its brush with Hurricane Paloma, said a Department of Tourism (DoT) press release.

The release said the island was ready to receive visitors from Thursday 20 November with the reopening of the Southern Cross Club and the resumption of regular flight schedules by Cayman Airways Express.

Though Paloma passed over Little Cayman on 8 November with strong winds and heavy rain, the island escaped relatively unscathed and the main issue for resorts and residents has been the restoration of power, the DoT release said.

The Little Cayman Beach Resort and Head O’ Bay guest house were also expected to reopen on 20 November, and two further resorts, Pirates Point and Paradise Villas, were expected to have power by the weekend.

These resorts represent the majority of room stock on Little Cayman.

The Conch Club Condominiums and The Club will reopen in December, the DoT release said.

“We are thankful that tourism properties in Little Cayman have been able to get back up and running so quickly,” said Minister of Tourism Hon Charles Clifford.

He continued, “The main hurdle has been downed power lines and Cayman Brac Power & Light and CUC are working tirelessly to restore power so that tourism in the Sister Islands can resume once more.”

The DoT press release informed international media that on Grand Cayman, which felt few effects from the storm, “everything is back to normal – turquoise seas, white sand beaches, balmy temperatures and world-class dining, diving and accommodations.” Cayman Brac was directly impacted by the storm and sustained significant damage, and tourism properties there are undergoing assessment and recovery efforts, the release said. As assessments are completed, updates will be provided on the DoT website at www.caymanislands.ky

The press release advised visitors with plans to travel to the Sister Islands to contact their travel professional or the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism at 1-877-4CAYMAN.