Cruise Stakeholders In Ocho Rios Optimistic

The back-to-back visits of cruise ships to Ocho Rios, St. Ann,  last week are being greeted by industry stakeholders as a “momentum builder” and a step in the right direction.

The vessels brought nearly 6,000 visitors to the island over two days (September 21 and 22), bringing increased business for craft traders, taxi and bus operators, in-bond merchants, shop owners, among others in the “bubble tour” areas.

Part of the island’s resilient corridors, aimed at ensuring the destination’s safety, the bubble areas comprise facilities that have been given the greenlight to receive cruise passengers by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo). Persons who interact with visitors within the bubble are fully vaccinated and regularly tested.

Some of these places include Dunn’s River Falls; the Pineapple, Ocho Rios, Olde Craft and Dunn’s River Craft shops; Taj Mahal Plaza; Dolphin Cove; Island Village Shopping Centre; Mystic Mountain; and other sections of Main Street, Ocho Rios.

“I have been encouraged with what I saw last week,” Gem Palace Duty Free Store Owner, Kumar Sujanani, tells JIS News.

“I had pointed out earlier that we need to see a lot more inclusiveness in how the tours are being distributed and I think the arrangements this time were better than the previous visits of the ships. Let’s hope we can build on this momentum going forward,” he adds.

Mr. Sujanani, whose business is on Main Street, says he was particularly happy that many of the craft traders are seeing increased business activity after the 18-month absence of the cruise ships from the island’s shores due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Craft trader at the Olde Craft Market, Viola Kerr, says she was able to make a “couple dollars” over the two days.

“We are grateful, and that’s what we are looking for… to feel like we are a part of something,” she tells JIS News.

President of the Pineapple Craft Market Vendors’ Association, Clare Bruce, says he was also excited about the cruise-ship visits and the prospects for the sector going forward.

“Tourism is our livelihood, so having the cruise ships back in port is very important to us. We are gaining a lot from it. After been locked down for nearly 18 months and to see that they are coming back; it means a lot to us,” Ms. Bruce says.

“This is our livelihood; we do nothing else than tourism, and for us to have the cruise visits, it means the world to us,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Owner of Garfield Diving, Garfield Dussard, who has branches in Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay, says he is confident that the success of the Ocho Rios calls will encourage the cruise lines to give “the other ports a shot”.

Ocho Rios has been the only port to receive cruise ships since the local industry reopened in August with five cruise calls.

“I think the other cruise lines have been waiting patiently to see how we handle the calls we have been getting,” he argues. “While there have been a few hiccups, I think the Government has passed the test with flying colours,” he notes.

Senior Strategist/Adviser in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, for his part, says that the visit of the cruise vessels – MSC Meraviglia and Carnival Sunrise – is a “a big step in the right direction”, noting that all adult passengers were vaccinated.

“Almost every passenger on the ships were vaccinated, barring a few children. And, of course, it’s important to note that passengers who board the ships must present a negative COVID test,” Mr. Seiveright tells JIS News.

“Beyond that, we will continue to have our bubble tours sorted as it relates to the resilient corridors,” he adds.

Mr. Seiveright credits the success of the visits to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, TPDCo, and the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), indicating that more cruise ships calls are expected to the island.

“It has been an all-around team effort… . They [cruise lines] have been watching what is happening here in Ocho Rios,” he notes.

“Yes, we still have some things to iron out, but we are getting better as we go along. The good thing is that we, as stakeholders, are now all singing from the same song book,” he adds.