Cayman Islands strengthen its cruise industry ties at the 30th FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show: What you need to know?

The Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism and Ports, along with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT), recently represented the islands at the 30th Annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show held from October 21 to 26, 2024, in St. Maarten.

This key event gathered hundreds of participants from across the Caribbean and Latin America, providing the Cayman Islands with valuable opportunities to engage in strategic discussions with top cruise industry executives, including CEOs and Presidents from ten major cruise lines.

During the conference, bilateral meetings focused on identifying growth opportunities and strengthening the Cayman Islands’ presence in the cruise sector.

A notable highlight was the release of the 2023-2024 Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) study, which highlighted the significant economic impact of cruise tourism across 33 Caribbean and Latin American destinations, including the Cayman Islands.

According to the study, cruise tourism contributed approximately USD $161.5 million to the Cayman Islands economy, driven by passenger and crew onshore visits and additional cruise line expenditures.

This spending directly supported 1,717 jobs within the islands, generating over USD $34.9 million in wage income.

When accounting for indirect contributions from local business activities, cruise tourism supported a total of 2,988 jobs and USD $67.1 million in wage income throughout the 2023-2024 cruise year.

By attending high-profile industry events like the FCCA Cruise Conference, CIDOT continues to foster partnerships that enhance the Cayman Islands’ role as a premier cruise destination and bring new opportunities to its economy.