News Headline | Tourism policy to get 'thorough review'

From Cayman Net News:

Tourism policy to get 'thorough review'

Tourists traversing the narrow streets of George Town, the Cayman Islands' capital.

TWO years after the National Tourism Management Policy (NTMP) was unveiled at the Hyatt Regency in Grand Cayman, the Government intends to have a thorough review of it.

Then Leader of Government Business McKeeva Bush launched the NTMP, which provides guidance for tourism development in the Cayman Islands.

Tourism Minister Hon Charles Clifford, in responding to a question on the NTMP from Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce Wil Pineau at a speaker series said:

"Everyday we see new tourism destinations emerging around the globe and in our own region for that reason we need to take a very careful and thorough look at where we currently are," he said.

Mr Clifford said that a thorough review of the NTMP will be done and could last up to a year.

"I think it's important that while we will use past documents as reference materials as we have in the past, it's important that we recognise that the global tourism industry is not what it used to be," he said.

He said the review was necessary in an industry that is rapidly growing and very competitive.

"Ten or 15 years ago you could identify the number of tourism destinations on your two hands.

Countries have realised how lucrative tourism is," he said.

Mr Clifford said that despite the advancement in the tourism product in the Islands there was no need for complacency.

"I think the product today is better than it was before the hurricane but it's important that we do take time to do a very thorough review because we want this to be a plan that's progressive and visionary."

At the launch of the NTMP in 2004, Director of Tourism Pilar Bush said the policy would provide guidance for business decisions to be made in the coming years.

Ms Bush said it would ensure that, "the development of the tourism industry is a co-ordinated effort where each item undertaken is a deliberate step in a well-thought-out master plan."

The NTMP policy structure identified nine key areas to focus on in the next five years.

One of the main objectives was to provide a high quality product for visitors by upgrading accommodation and reception areas, in addition to the continued regeneration of George Town.

The policy also aims to protect and enhance the marine environment, attract a more discerning, higher spending visitor and develop a highly skilled Caymanian tourism workforce.

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