The Cayman Islands Airport Authority has announced that passenger drop-offs in front of the departure area at Owen Roberts International Airport will be suspended for 2 weeks from today. The change will allow vital development work to take place. Drivers dropping off passengers are advised to use a designated lane close to the arrivals area.
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has released air and cruise arrival figures for 2007. Air passenger arrivals for 2007 stood at 291,503, up 9 percent from 2006 but 18 percent lower than the pre Hurricane Ivan and 9/11 figures recorded in 2000. 1.7 million visitors arrived by cruise ship, down on the record 1.9 million visitors recorded in 2006.
The Cayman Island’s Public Transportation Board has approved an increase in taxi fares. Effective November 1 2007, the base taxi fare will rise from CI$7 to CI$8, while mileage and hourly rates will increase by 20 percent.
Hurricane Dean passed 100 miles south of Grand Cayman yesterday morning, bringing heavy winds and rough seas to the island but little damage. The category 4 hurricane had at one stage been on a direct path to hit Grand Cayman. The government-imposed curfew was lifted yesterday afternoon and Minister of Tourism, Charles Clifford, has announced that Owen Roberts International Airport is fully operational.
Cayman Airways will suspend its service between Houston and Grand Cayman from November 9 2007. Other changes from that date include a resumption of a twice-weekly service to Chicago and the addition of a fourth weekly flight to New York. The national carrier says the moves are a result of a new focus on the most popular and lucrative routes.
Cruise ships arriving at Spotts have been banned from dropping their anchors. The Department of the Environment say that one ship anchoring for a day can destroy over 3,000 square metres of reef. Modern cruise ships can hold their position without dropping anchor.
Figures released by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism reveal that tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2007 showed a significant improvement on the prior year. Total arrivals by air reached 86,819 compared to 76,660 in 2006. Cruise visitors rose to 682,975, a 5.8 percent increase on the corresponding figures for 2006.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has released figures showing a drop in serious crime in the first quarter of 2007. Compared to the previous year total serious crimes have dropped from194 reported offences to 167. Speeding and drink driving offences rose sharply, but the police put this down to increased enforcement.
Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford has announced that the national carrier Cayman Airways will, subject to regulatory approval, begin direct fights between Grand Cayman and New York’s JFK International Airport on June 23 2007. More than 30% of visitors to the Cayman Islands come from the New York Area. He said, ‘The data clearly indicates how important the Northeast market is to our tourism industry. I commend the Board and Management of Cayman Airways for responding to this demand with the introduction of the New York route. As we have stated in the past, one of the key roles of our National Airline is to support the Islands as an engine of economic growth. I am therefore extremely pleased to see the industry come together in this fashion. Moreover, I am confident our local residents will enjoy the convenience of the non-stop service for leisure, cultural and shopping opportunities in the Big Apple.’
A discussion White Paper was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday that proposes banning smoking in all enclosed and collective public places in the Cayman Islands. This would include bars, restaurants, buses, taxis and parks. Members of the public have 60 days to voice their opinion on the proposals.