An official from the Florida based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. a leading investor in cruise port development, made a comprehensive presentation at a recent Cabinet session, involving a proposed development and expansion of the St John's City Cruise Complex and its environs.
This was the second visit by John Tercek, Vice President for Commercial and New Business Development, who oversees shoreside infrastructure projects and ventures, to support Royal Caribbean's strategic growth objectives with an emphasis on port and facilities development.
Making the point that Antigua was important enough in the cruise tourism industry for Royal Caribbean to make this kind of investment, Tercek identified and laid out a comprehensive program that addressed multiple issues relative to cruise tourism, commerce and the daily life of residents who live and work in St John's.
Tercek stressed that there is great potential for the development of the St John's waterfront, in particular, areas from the Fish Market all the way South to the Deepwater Commercial Port, with further concentration on the cruise-tourist areas of Redcliffe and Heritage Quays.
The entirety of the proposed development, which was initiated by the Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, takes into consideration opportunities for improved road and parking infrastructure, and enhancement of linkages between all of the waterfront properties to provide local residents, land-based and cruise visitors with an improved onshore experience.
The dynamics associated with the development include improved berthing facilities and an additional berth at the Deep Water Harbour, a comprehensive signage program that incorporates informational, directional and regulatory signs and lighting, a taxi dispatch and welcome centre, modern restroom facilities, a yacht marina and slips, a downtown boutique hotel, residential and entertainment facilities that take advantage of harbour views, restaurants and bars, designer shopping boutiques, a boardwalk, and beautifications and landscaping of entire areas.
The international architectural and engineering firm of Bermello, Ajamil & Partners Inc. are being retained by Royal Caribbean to conceptualize the thematic Master Plan presented last week.
Bermello is currently involved in extensive and important work in the Middle East, North and Central America and Europe developing ports to accommodate Royal Caribbean's GENESIS, the largest of the new generation of mega ships, Royal Caribbean revealed.
Tercek also emphasized that the cruise market in particular is continuously expanding, and is likely to increase in size greatly over the next few years, as the European cruise consumer market continues to flourish and the bigger cruise ships like GENESIS, with the potential for 6,000 or more passengers, come on stream.
He suggested that Antigua has done a good job of managing the growth of its cruise and land-based tourism, but has outgrown its infrastructure. Strategic short term solutions were recommended for the upcoming high tourist [winter] season when cruise ship visits are at their highest.
The content of the presentation evoked considerable response and discussion by cabinet ministers, and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said he felt the "opportunities [identified] far outweigh the challenges" and agreed that "we need significant development in downtown St John's".
He said he would look favourably at the proposal and the immediate next steps, including a meeting with key players and a broad-based community consultation. Mr Tercek expressed an interest in returning to participate in these sessions.
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