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Opening of New Cruise Ship Complex St. George’s, Grenada December 16, 2004
"Leadership is impossible without a guiding vision
I wish first of all to empathize with the farmers and everyone else present who have suffered damage from the passage of Hurricane Ivan.
Most, it not all of us have lost our roofs, and our crops, and there may be one or more amongst us who would have lost a loved one.
The aforementioned statement is reflective of this Government’s position on the tourism industry.
The industry has been recognized by Government as the engine of growth for the economy for the foreseeable future, even more so in the
post-Ivan period. Government’s role in the sector’s development is the provision of infrastructure and the institutional and regulatory
framework to facilitate private sector investment, as well as the marketing and promotion of Grenada.
This morning’s activity aptly demonstrate government’s leadership in providing the climate for investment and the tangible result thereof,
the new St. George’s Cruise Ship Terminal.
Tourism, one of the world’s fastest growing export industry with an estimated value of three point five trillion U.S dollars ($US3.5 T),
provides direct and indirect employment globally in excess of two hundred million persons. The industry provides employment for one in every
nine persons worldwide, but in the Caribbean it does so for one in every four persons.
Over the twenty years culminating in December 2003, the Caribbean although having less than one percent of the world’s population, consistently
received more than six percent of the world tourist arrivals. It is therefore evident that tourism is a very important industry in Caribbean
economies. In the post-Ivan period, this is especially so for us in Grenada.
Statistics on the cruise industry has revealed that more and more persons opt to cruise every year, particularly as cruise lines continue to
improve their product and exceed customer expectations. The Caribbean accounts for approximately seventy-one percent (71%) of passengers and
sixty-seven percent (67%) of passenger-days carried by ten major cruise lines in the North American market (Sea Trade Review. December 2003).
The importance of cruise tourism in the Caribbean is further revealed when one considers that in 2002, ninety-eight percent of passengers
sailing from Florida and U.S gulf ports went to Caribbean destinations.
In 2004 the cruise industry was projected to yield a net annual turnover of seventeen billion U.S dollars, with global passenger throughput of
twelve point five million persons. The new St. George’s Cruise Ship Terminal must be understood within the context of plans of the three big
cruise corporations; i.e. Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Star Cruises Group.
This year the cruise industry saw the introduction of new mega ships such as Mariner of the seas, Costa Fortuna, Queen Mary2, Diamond
Princess and Carnival Miracle. Orders were also placed for four new mega ships valued just above two billion U.S dollars, to be delivered
in 2006. Ladies and Gentlemen! The cruise industry has moved to mega ships. These ships would require larger ports to dock. This global trend
is therefore the purpose that has generated this government’s passion for the accomplishment of the new cruise ship terminal.
From 1998, the local cruise sector recorded increases in arrivals up to September 11, 2001 and the SARS epidemic shortly thereafter. Prior to
Hurricane Ivan, the sector showed significant recovery from the impact of September 11 and SARS, with over two hundred and thirty thousand
visitors in 2003. The cruise sector brings immediate income to a significant number of our citizens, and does not depend on the accommodation
plant as visitors spend less than one day on our beautiful island. The tourism industry, in particular the cruise sector, has been designated
by government to lead the recovery of our national economy post-Ivan.
With linkages to other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, craft, transportation and banking, the sector is indeed well placed to play
a pivotal role in our economic recovery. Consequently, my Ministry and the Board of Tourism, together with other stakeholders, have worked
tirelessly to ensure the 2004/2005 cruise ship season got started on November 9, with the arrival of the Norwegian Spirit with over two
thousand passengers. Approximately two months after Hurricane Ivan, we were able to bring back smiles to the faces of our vendors, taxi drivers,
tour operators and other persons who operate in the sector. To this date; i.e. from November 9th. to December 15th. Cruise ships have made a
total of thirty-three calls , bringing twenty-eight thousand, and ten visitors to our shores.
As I mentioned earlier, the trend in the global cruise industry is the deployment of mega ships, which require larger docking and improved port
facilities. The new St. George’s Cruise Ship Terminal was given the stamp of approval by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in
February of this year. In fact, the facility was described as one of the best in the Southern Caribbean. The Welcome Center which we will open
today marks the completion of another phase of this vital development. Facilities would be provided for twenty-two tour buses, thirty-six
registered taxis and thirty vendors, with the phased development of shopping facilities to begin shortly.
Ladies and Gentlemen! This new cruise ship facility heralds the start of a new and improved cruise sector.
For our Nation to reap the maximum benefits from the industry, it is imperative that this vision is conveyed through all of our citizens who
come in contact with visitors to our island. In this regard additional initiatives in training and public awareness are being finalized as
part of Government’s philosophy of continuous education and training. Government is working assiduously with regional and extra-regional
governments to ensure that displaced workers in the industry and school leavers intent on working in the industry travel overseas to receive
training. Additionally, the Grenada Board of Tourism will soon start a renewed public awareness programme to assure the continued entrenchment
of the Grenadian hospitality.
Tourism is indeed everyone’s business. I therefore challenge all our citizens to do their part to make this new cruise ship facility a success.
Ladies and Gentlemen! The government of Grenada is committed to the growth of the tourism industry. Government will continue to provide the
infrastructure, institutional and regulatory framework necessary for the growth of the industry.
The development of the new St. George’s Cruise Ship Terminal was possible with the vision of this government and the support of many
individuals and organizations. Permit me therefore to express special thanks to the following:
Ladies and Gentlemen I thank you!
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