Source: The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) in the Cayman Islands

In Historic Vote, ACT Calls on Caymanians to Choose Facts Over Fear, Progress Over Private Interests

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (April 29, 2025) — As Caymanians prepare to head to the polls in tomorrow’s historic referendum, The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) in the Cayman Islands is making a final urgent appeal: choose progress, not misinformation.

At the heart of the vote is more than a cruise pier — it is the future of Cayman’s working families. According to ACT, rejecting modern cruise berthing facilities would be a devastating blow to thousands of Caymanians whose livelihoods are intertwined with the island’s cruise tourism sector.

“A ‘no’ vote is not just a vote against infrastructure,” ACT stated. “It’s a vote against the hardworking Caymanian men and women who depend on cruise tourism to provide for their families.”

In recent months, ACT has robustly countered claims from anti-cruise activists who argue that cruise tourism undermines stayover arrivals or that Cayman cannot afford the development. The organization says the facts tell a different story:

• Cruise arrivals and air arrivals are not in conflict. Since 2019, cruise passenger numbers to Cayman have fallen by nearly 50 percent. Despite this decline, there has been no corresponding surge in air arrivals — proof that both sectors must grow together to sustain the economy.
• Affordability is a non-issue. Nations far smaller and with fewer resources than Cayman have successfully developed cruise infrastructure. ACT points out that common sense – not fear – should drive national decision-making.
• Modern cruise berthing projects can be funded through passenger taxes and smart partnerships, not government debt, using a financial model that protects taxpayers. Assertions that Caymanians would be burdened with hundreds of millions of dollars in debt have been debunked as categorically false.
• Environmental preservation is built into the project. Engineering studies confirm that by using pilings, the modern piers will mitigate environmental damage compared to current practices that rely on widespread anchoring.

In response to recent editorials questioning whether Cayman can afford cruise berthing, ACT fired back: “The real question is whether Caymanians can afford to lose another 3,000 jobs. Whether we can afford to watch our tourism sector – the pillar of our economy – wither due to inaction.”

ACT has also emphasized the social cost of rejecting the piers, warning that small businesses, tour operators, retail workers, and hundreds of young Caymanians entering the workforce would face limited opportunities if the country fails to modernize its infrastructure.

“This referendum is about dignity, economic independence, and securing opportunity for the next generation,” ACT stated. “Those who oppose cruise tourism have the financial security to withstand economic decline. Most Caymanians do not.”

In stark terms, ACT leaders have framed tomorrow’s referendum as a battle for the island’s future: a choice between protecting livelihoods or yielding to misinformation campaigns driven by elite interests disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.

“The stakes could not be clearer,” ACT’s statement concluded. “Tomorrow, we choose the kind of Cayman we want to build. Vote for progress. Vote to protect Caymanian livelihoods. Vote for Preserving Our Heritage. Building Our Future.”

About The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) in the Cayman Islands

The Association for Cruise Tourism (ACT) represents a coalition of stakeholders dedicated to the sustainable and responsible growth of the cruise tourism industry in the Cayman Islands. With members across a broad spectrum of the local economy, including tour operators, merchants, restaurants, bars and transportation providers, ACT advocates for the businesses, entrepreneurs and local stakeholders who benefit from cruise tourism, ensuring their voices are heard in decisions impacting this crucial sector. ACT is also dedicated to educating the public, advocating for balanced policies, and supporting initiatives that drive economic growth while benefiting all residents of the Cayman islands. For more information, visit actcayman.com.

From: Marketplace Excellence, 1812 Front Street, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 | www.marketplaceexcellence.com