Tourism

Click to see the solutions PlanCayman will implement to carry out our goals

Complete

Ensure sustainable, diverse, and appropriately scaled hotel and resort developments.

Guide the future development of high-density tourist accommodation and facilities into identified suitable locations.

Action Points:
  • Develop a long range plan and vision for the high-density tourism areas to protect product quality and guide the development of tourist accommodation and facilities.
  • Create design standards and urban design guidelines that define, encourage and emphasize locally compatible development.
  • Review and revise the design, height, and setback requirements to ensure that future development is compatible with the Island’s historical architectural characteristics.
  • Consult the Department of Tourism and other relevant agencies on all applications for tourist accommodation.

Create opportunities for new hotel and tourist related activities on other parts of the Island for the traveler who does not want high-density vacation opportunities.

Action Points:
  • Review and revise, if necessary, existing land-use laws and regulations for the Hotel Tourism and Beach Resort zones to allow for appropriately scaled development across the island.
  • Explore and identify necessary regulation changes that encourage alternative tourism opportunities such as nature-tourism, agri-tourism and heritage tourism.
  • Explore the feasibility and need of creating a Neighbourhood Tourism Zone for small-scale hotel operations.
  • Create design standards and urban design guidelines that reflect the unique characteristics of lower-density tourism areas.
  • Revise regulations for the height and setback requirements for the Eastern Districts.
Complete

Ensure that appropriate land use policies are in place to facilitate the Island’s sustainable tourism policies.

Work with the Ministry of Tourism to facilitate the tourism strategy of a sustainable, more inclusive, better managed, and more balanced and vibrant tourism industry and ensure that future developments meet the policies outlined in the National Tourism Plan (NTP).

Action Points:
  • Ensure that future tourist accommodation is deemed necessary and designed with long term goals in mind.
  • Create design standards to ensure that future development is appropriately and sustainably designed and scaled to coordinate with the character of the area.
  • Applications should be accompanied with a market analysis that illustrates demand for the proposed development.
  • Support the reuse of existing buildings.
  • Create a strategic approach within the tourism industry to conserve resources as well as deal with waste materials.

Create a central George Town Tourism master plan to ensure the compatibility, quality and diversity of tourism related facilities in relation to the everyday uses of residents.

Action Points:
  • Work together with DoT, DoE, PWD and NRA to regenerate George Town in a “take pride” initiative.
  • Support reinvestment of existing facilities and encourage where appropriate new buildings to be of Caymanian Architecture.
  • Address pedestrian and traffic flow to ensure safe and efficient movement of people.
  • Facilitate the provision of shade trees, street furniture and public art to be placed strategically around the town centre. This could be in conjunction with the tourism master plan.
  • Create a town square or public park in the town centre with appropriate street and park furniture.

Allow for small-scale tourist related developments in suitable locations across the Island that complement the character of the area and would not have any adverse environmental or social impacts.

Action Points:
  • Create the land use policies necessary to support this new development type.
  • Create urban design guidelines that reflect the unique characteristics of East End, North Side and Bodden Town.

Ensure Green Globe environmental and social performance standards at all stages of development for tourism related facilities.

Action Points:
  • Develop the necessary guidelines (such as relaunching the Cayman Islands Environmental Project for the Tourism Sector (CEPTS) certification programme) and land use policies to support businesses that adopt Green Globe standards.
  • Promote Best Management Practices in tourism by encouraging the industry to comply with environmental legislation; observe industry code of practice; develop in-house environmental policies to manage waste, conserve freshwater and energy resources, reduce environmentally unfriendly products (e.g. pesticides, herbicides and toxic materials); properly maintain facilities and develop staff training programmes toward environmental awareness.
  • Encourage reinvestment and renovations in accommodations that do not meet minimum standards set by the Department of Tourism.
Complete

Ensure that the necessary facilities are provided to enhance the experience for cruise ship passengers.

Ensure that development in and around cruise berthing locations is done in a comfortable and attractive manner.

Action Points:
  • Identify potential improvements for the cruise passenger experience to help turn these visitors into future stay-over visitors.
  • Improve ground transportation and pedestrian amenities for cruise passengers. This should be part of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
  • Develop a master plan for the secondary Spotts Terminal.
  • Encourage multi-purpose tourist information centres throughout the Island.
Complete

Ensure that a mix of facilities is provided for stay over and cruise ship tourists, as well as residents.

Improve terminal facilities at Owen Roberts International Airport as well as support the necessary facilities and services in the airport area.

Action Points:
  • Provide improved transportation options to and from Owen Roberts International Airport. This should become part of the   Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Ensure stay-over visitors have an adequate range of entertainment and recreation options.

Action Points:
  • Encourage further development of attractions such as Barkers National Park, and the protection of the Central Mangrove Wetland, Mastic Reserve, and the Botanic Garden in order to enhance nature-tourism experiences while preserving Cayman’s natural environment.
  • In consultation with DoE, DoA and the National Trust, create a Nature/Tourism designation adjacent to protected areas that will safeguard coastal areas and create more public open space and trails.

Encourage new and / or improved amenities for the use of tourists and residents, such as a SCUBA diving hall of fame, artificial reefs, heritage trail, farmers’ and craft markets, focal points around Island, fishing locations, bird watching locations and horse riding locations.

Action Points:
  • Consider appropriate activities, such as a SCUBA diving hall of fame, artificial reefs, heritage trail, farmers’ and craft markets, fishing, bird watching and horse riding locations.
  • Any new facilities should take into consideration location, traffic, environmental, social and economic impacts.

Encourage the development of conference, function, and international sporting facilities

Action Points:
  • Determine the scale and identify the most appropriate locations.

Establish legal protection for historic buildings or sites of heritage interest.

Action Points:
  • Work with the National Trust to safeguard and enhance outstanding buildings and structures that contribute to Cayman’s distinct character.
  • Support the National Trust in providing information manuals and signage for tourists regarding the location of historical structures and locations.
  • Support legislation that legally protects historic buildings.