Grenada tourism ‘actively engaging major cruise brands’

The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has said it is proactively engaging major cruise brands in an effort to bring more cruise passengers to the country.

Earlier this month, top officials from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and major cruise lines visited Pure Grenada on the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism.

The delegation included Michele Paige, president of the FCCA, Frederico Gonzalez-Denton, associate vice-president of government relations, in Latin America and the Caribbean Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Leon Sutcliffe, director, global ports of call and government relations for Carnival Cruise Lines.

The three-man delegation met with stakeholders including the Marketing and National Importing Board, the Grenada Ports Authority (GPA), the Market Access and Rural Enterprise programme, the GTA and Ministry of Tourism.

The group also met with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

A statement from the GTA said: “Valuable insights coming from the delegation included increasing business to the destination by packaging more authentic tours and emphasising the Pure Grenada brand in all activities especially our culinary offerings.

Platinum membership

“In addition opportunities for Grenadians to receive employment opportunities were also explored.”

Grenada is now a 2017 platinum member of the FCCA, and the GTA used this opportunity to have nautical development manager Nikoyan Roberts attend the Platinum Associate Members Advisory Council meeting of the FCCA in Aruba earlier this month.

GTA CEO Patricia Maher said meeting the major players in the cruise industry and networking was key.

“It was an excellent opportunity to reintroduce the Pure Grenada brand to the top industry officials, keeping us top of their minds,” Maher added.

“The insight we have gained was extremely useful and we will use it to increase cruise business to Grenada.”

In the next two years, Pure Grenada is anticipating growth of more than 40% in cruise business.