(MENAFN- Caribbean News Global)
By mona lisa meade
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The minister for tourism and ports, Kenneth Bryan on Tuesday, 30 May 2023, updated the country on planned enhancements to the Islands' airport infrastructure and decisions taken to improve the safety, comfort, and efficiency of Cayman's airport operations.
The panel joining the minister comprised the director of tourism, Rosa Harris, and the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) chief executive officer, Albert Anderson and CIAA board chairman, Johann Moxam.
Minister Bryan announced that cabinet approved the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Cayman Islands Airport Master Plan which paves the way for the CIAA to move into the next phases of the development process, which include public consultation, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and procurement.
The 286-page document builds upon previous airport master plans and identifies the opportunities and constraints associated with the Islands' existing airport infrastructure while including recommendations for improvement.
“After careful consideration of all the options presented in the business case and their associated costs, four specific projects have been approved by cabinet to move forward. The total cost of these enhancements and development projects amounts to $76M and represents a significant and necessary investment in our airport facilities,” said minister Bryan.
The minister explained the strategic selection of the projects necessary to address safety and regulatory concerns, provide the greatest business development opportunities that are affordable for the country, and deliver a solid foundation to support continued growth in the tourism sector.
The four specific projects include:
$28M runway extension at the Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA). $4.7M to improve the Air Traffic Control Surveillance at ORIA. $42M to build a new General Aviation Facility. $1.15M to undertake Runway End Safety Area works (RESA) at the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CKIA) in Cayman Brac.
Revenue to fund the enhancements will be derived from increasing the Terminal Fee from CI$1.00 to CI$5.00 and the introduction of a CI$15.00 airport development fee. This new fee will be applicable only during the construction period, which is estimated to take place between 2024 and 2029.
“Creating the right conditions for a successful and sustainable future for our tourism industry is an important priority for this government and this is why we are committed to investing in our tourism infrastructure. We are excited to move this project forward for the benefit of the people of the Cayman Islands”, said minister Bryan.
On completion, the enhancements are expected to deliver significant economic benefits including increased stay-over visitor spending, increased revenues for the Cayman Islands government, increased opportunities for additional airlift into Grand Cayman, and greater overall profitability for the Cayman Islands Airports Authority.
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