Cayman Numbers Are On The Rise!

After a record year for tourism in 2014, arrival figures have continued to rise.

According to the latest figures, over 34,000 tourists flew in to Grand Cayman in January 2015, a 9.5 percent increase on the same time last year. Also in January, over 200,000 cruise ship passengers arrived in the Cayman Islands.

While tourist numbers on the rise, the population is also swelling. Last year the population of the Cayman Islands rose to the largest in its history, according to the government’s Economics and Statistics Office, to an estimated 58,238 people.

This shows a real recovery since the international financial crisis of 2008. Population numbers had begun to decline and this led to fewer jobs and work permits. The new figures are encouraging of a real recovery across the region, and this is encouraging for the economy here.

This recovery is also evident in that plans are now also underway for the expansion of a terminal at Owen Roberts International Airport. The expansion would double the capacity of the building, and construction is planned to begin in September, lasting for 3-4 years. Once complete, it will be able to accommodate up to 2.5 million passengers per year.

The design for the new extension can be seen here:

http://www.caribjournal.com/2015/03/11/this-is-what-the-new-cayman-islands-airport-will-look-like/