Bermuda debates its approach to the cruise industry
The future of Bermuda cruises hang in the balance, as competing interests debate how welcoming the exclusive island should be to the cruise industry. The issue has come to a head since within several years, fewer and fewer of the new, large cruise ships will be able to dock in St. George's or Hamilton without major engineering projects to enable them to handle these bigger vessels.
On one side of the argument are those who consider the visitors from cruise ships to be second-class citizens who suck up local resources like taxis, degrading the experience of the "real" visitors who fly to Bermuda, stay in a hotel, and perhaps leave behind more dollars.
On the other side are realists who point out that discouraging cruising will not necessarily translate into more fly-and-stay visitors. Take the booming New York cruise market, from which one can sail on terrific ships to either Bermuda or the Caribbean. If the Bermuda cruise option shrinks, it's clear that the Caribbean would gain more trips and tourism, Bermuda would lose out, and the cruise lines would be largely unaffected.
Assuming that it is interested in growing tourism, Bermuda will be best served by ensuring consumers can continue to make their own choice about how to visit the island, whether by ship or plane. And that, in turn, will require the investments to accommodate large ships at St. George's and Hamiton.
Bermuda Sun: We are at a crossroads on the cruise ship issue
On one side of the argument are those who consider the visitors from cruise ships to be second-class citizens who suck up local resources like taxis, degrading the experience of the "real" visitors who fly to Bermuda, stay in a hotel, and perhaps leave behind more dollars.
On the other side are realists who point out that discouraging cruising will not necessarily translate into more fly-and-stay visitors. Take the booming New York cruise market, from which one can sail on terrific ships to either Bermuda or the Caribbean. If the Bermuda cruise option shrinks, it's clear that the Caribbean would gain more trips and tourism, Bermuda would lose out, and the cruise lines would be largely unaffected.
Assuming that it is interested in growing tourism, Bermuda will be best served by ensuring consumers can continue to make their own choice about how to visit the island, whether by ship or plane. And that, in turn, will require the investments to accommodate large ships at St. George's and Hamiton.
Bermuda Sun: We are at a crossroads on the cruise ship issue
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