(CMR) The Chief Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Stran Bodden, has revealed that work to replace Cayman's expired National Tourism Plan has been placed on hold until after the 2025 general election.
The last plan, implemented in 2019 under the previous administration, expired last year. However, Bodden said a decision was made to continue using that plan until after the election and a tourism minister is appointed.
According to the Department of Tourism, the National Tourism Plan‘s purpose is to define, through a consensus-oriented process, a road map for enhancing the competitiveness of the Cayman Islands tourism industry and ensuring the sustainability of the islands’ cultural and natural assets. The plan intends to maximize and spread the benefits of tourism development throughout the country.
Speaking to the Public Accounts Committee recently, Bodden said, “What is anticipated is that the next administration of government, that will be their plan, and they be able to take that forward during that term in terms of the initiatives, any projects identified, any changes in perspectives in terms of how to best leverage tourism for the entrepreneurship and employees in tourism.”
Bodden said the NTP, which expired last year, is still a dynamic and comprehensive document. He said the ministry will publish an adapted document this month.