Ground breaking for the $35 million facility is slated for April in Grand Turk, the capital, which will see its first slew of cruise ships in the 2005 winter season.
Once constructed, the terminal will provide an economic boost to Grand Turk, which is in the top 10 dive destinations in the world. The country’s northern island, Providenciales, already attracts American tourists and investors.
The project is a joint venture between the Turks and Caicos’ government and Carnival Cruise Lines, the largest cruise ship chain in the world.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said on Tuesday that cruise ship terminal underscores that most countries, particularly Caribbean countries, are pursuing the tourism industry now more than ever.
“It just tells and speaks to us even more loudly that we must protect what we have, because they are looking at The Bahamas as a model destination and they’re putting in place and developing relations with the private sector, like the cruise industry, to ensure there is ongoing sustainable business for the future,” Mr. Wicchcombe said.
The Bahamas, he said, must therefore, “think about where we are, what we’re doing and how we’re going to ensure that we hold on to the market that we do have.”
“Turks and Caicos Islands are competing, yes. So is the Cancun, Mexico, so is the Dominican Republic, so is Cuba ﾗ they’re all out there. We have to make sure that our product is superior at all times,” he said.
Nassau and Freeport saw an estimated 2.5 million cruise ship tourists last year. On some days, as many as 14 ships are berthed at Nassau’s harbour.
Despite these numbers, Mr. Wilchcombe noted there is still a lot of work that must be done to meet the demands and expectations of tourist. To this end, the ministry has taken steps to address tourist harassment, service and the rejuvenate downtown into a place for nighttime excitement.
“This year, we are working very hard on the product. We are working very hard to provide training for workers in the industry, whether they be taxi drivers, hair braiders, straw vendors ﾗ they are all ambassadors, so we must prepare them for this industry,” Wilchcombe said.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the world’s second largest cruise ship operator, will introduce two new ships to meet the demand of cruise ship travelers. The ships are expected to be larger than its Voyager of the Seas, which weighs 142,000 tons.
For the time being, Cunard’s Queen Mary II, the largest ship in the world, with 17 decks, and the length of about four football fields, will take over the QE2’s transatlantic route.
While the country’s tourism industry has “done well” with the present cruise ship terminal, Wilchcombe noted that it must diligently protect its principle source of income.
Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
