Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Montserrat receives a message of hope

Monday, December 4, 2006

by: Karen ‘Lioness’ Allen
Caribbean Net News Montserrat Correspondent
Email: karen@caribbeannetnews.com

BRADES, Montserrat: In the midst of Montserrat’s current economic stalemate, Chief Minister Lowell Lewis has delivered a message of hope that follows new evidence of increased interest in the country’s yachting and cruise tourism sector.

On the 30th November, Montserrat’s Government Information Unit (GIU) issued a press release announcing that Montserrat is making a case to be included as a destination for two top cruise lines.

Currently, the Government is in talks with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises to have Montserrat included on their destination schedule.

Since the start of the current volcanic eruption in 1995, residents of Montserrat have noticed large cruise liners lingering close to the country’s coastline. Now, for the first time, Graham Davis, manager of Caribbean and Atlantic Shore Operations for Princess Cruises and Cunard, and Patrick Schneider for Shore Excursions and Explorations Royal Caribbean International Celebrity Cruises are on island assessing Montserrat’s tourism product, amenities, and infrastructure to help them make a decision.

Accepting Lewis’ invitation, these two cruise lines representatives listened to his case for Montserrat to become a unique and special destination for their customers.

Montserrat’s Chief Minister sweetened his proposal with the concept of Cultural Centre Productions, courtesy of a brand new state-of-the-art cultural centre, the proposed Heritage Site Carr’s Bay Plantation, the multi-purpose recreation area, safe-harbour marina, Silver Hills Trail, Rendezvous and Little Bay, public market, and new government and commercial buildings.

Based on the Chief Minister's proposal, Little Bay will be a special place for day visitors and cruise ship visitors.

In any case, Lewis says, “Whatever happens, ours will be a controlled tourism programme, two or three days a week only with exclusive contracts to one or two lines, so that we retain the special features of the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. For the next few years, not only will visitors be able to see a live volcano and the destroyed town of Plymouth, but also witness a completely new town in the making.”

Just a few weeks before the arrival of the two cruise line representative on island, Little Bay harbour was crowded with 19 monohulls and catamarans as Montserrat hosted this year's Caribik Trophy 2006 for one day.

This Montserrat Tourist Board (MTB)-coordinated effort allowed Montserrat’s comatose economy to feel the stirring effects of 121 visitors in one day. The MTB reported a 1,600 percent increase in yacht arrivals to Montserrat in December 2005 from 2 to about 40.

Iswah Persad, Marketing Manager for the MTB, believes that these statistics show there is room for further positive development in Montserrat’s yachting tourism industry and, therefore, represents a viable option for economic recovery.

Princess Cruises' Graham Davis said, “Montserrat is a unique destination, the volcano will definitely be a draw, but we are suggesting that a number of things be put in place to ensure that when we bring passengers to the island they have things to do and we can safely off load and reload passengers.”

Patrick Schneider of Royal Caribbean said, “We are always looking for new destinations and Montserrat with its lure of the volcano definitely has something to offer cruise passengers, but we’re not in a position to promise anything just yet, it’s just a fact finding mission and when, we get back to Florida we will sit down and then make recommendations to the Government on what is needed for us to include Montserrat as a destination on our cruise schedule.”

In the meantime, as Montserrat waits for the cruise lines’ decisions, the Government of Montserrat says it intends to continue to request Britain for the necessary funds needed to create the type of facilities expected by cruise liners, yachts, and their passengers. Without these funds, Montserrat’s hopes of tapping into the only sign of life the yachting and cruise sectors of tourism industry offer will never be a reality.

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