Garwin Davis and Pat Roxborough, Staff Reporters
WESTERN BUREAU -
JAMAICA WILL lose an estimated $400 million because of Princess Cruises' decision not to send two of its main ships to the island's ports after next year, some tourism interests claim.
The estimated loss will be borne mainly by the Government, which will miss out on more than $100 million in head taxes, water and port fees. Each tourist pays head tax of US$15. Additionally, in-bond merchants claim they will lose nearly $100 million.
Princess Cruises, whose ships bring more than 100,000 passengers to the island each year, plans to re-deploy the Sea Prin-cess from Ocho Rios to San Juan, Puerto Rico, come the next cruise ship season.
At the same time, the ship with which it planned to replace the Sea Princess, the Grand Princess, will be going to Mexico instead, a move the cruise line said was due to an attractive offer from that country.
Trevor Riley of the Jamaica Tourist Board, insisted in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner last week said the decision by Princess Cruises could not be described as a "pullout" as ships were re-deployed to and from Jamaica all the time.
However, the business community of the resort town of Ocho Rios, which depends heavily on cruise shipping, is distraught.
"I can speak for Prospect Plantation which could be losing in excess of $1 million as a result of this," said Andrew Grant, who manages the popular North Coast attraction that offers tours, jitney rides and other activities to tourists.
Immense loss
"No doubt, the loss will be immense," said Sanju Chatani, owner of the Taj Mahal Plaza in Ocho Rios. "It is something that will be felt right across the board and I dare say, will have more far-reaching effects than we could ever imagine.
"When you look at what the attractions, ground transportation, shopping centres, restaurants, craft vendors and numerous other entities will lose then one can begin to understand the gravity of the situation," Mr. Chatani added. "It will have a trickling down effect that will be felt far and wide."
Kumar Sujanani, president of the Ocho Rios Indian Merchants Association agreed. According to him, not only will the absence of the ships hurt the economy of Ocho Rios, but will deny the country much needed foreign exchange.
"The pull-out of any major cruise line is bound to have an impact," Mr. Sujanani said. "Ocho Rios relies heavily on cruise shipping and if we are not careful, more ships could follow. From the supermarkets to the beauty parlour operators, if there is a fallout from the cruise lines, there will be no money for people to spend with them."
"This will further add to our suffering," said Mildred McCalla, president of the Ocho Rios Craft Vendors Association. "We were hardly doing any business and now this! I don't know how craft vendors are going to make out."
But despite the business community's grim outlook, the JTB is maintaining that Princess Cruises will still be serving Jamaica by sending its Crown Princess to Jamaica regularly.
"Regular basis? Man, that ship is scheduled to come here only two times for the year. Look for yourself!" exclaimed a source while showing a copy of the 2001 cruise shipping schedule to The Sunday Gleaner.
