Travel Restrictions to Caymans in Wake of Ivan

October 7, 2004

Travel Restrictions to Caymans in Wake of Ivan
October 7, 2004 – TravelWeekly reports temporary travel restrictions to the Grand Cayman as a result of damages brought on by hurricane Ivan. Only Caymanian passport holders, residents and relief workers with "right to work" visas are permitted to enter. Those traveling to the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on Cayman Airways are permitted to connect in Grand Cayman if they are holding confirmed roundtrip tickets, pre-booked accommodations and "permission granted" letters from the resorts.

Cayman Airways’ had planned to launch a twice-weekly, year-round nonstop service from Boston on Oct. 29. This date has now been postponed, and no new date has been set at this time.

According to TravelWeekly, Red Sail Sports Grand Cayman, which runs dive operations at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, Westin, Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Indies Suites, Rum Point and Royal Palms resorts, will reopen once the travel restrictions to Grand Cayman are lifted.

A spokesman said that many of Grand Cayman’s reefs were too deep to be affected by Hurricane Ivan’s winds and that the fish are still combing the sands at Stingray City. The Cayman Turtle Farm had no significant damage and no turtles were lost, according to Ken Hydes, managing director.

McKeeva Bush, minister of tourism, said the hotel sector is "tentatively looking at reopening a cross section of accommodations by Thanksgiving and some could reopen this month."

Meanwhile, the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort announced a reopening date of Dec. 1.

The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund has been established to benefit those who were injured, rendered homeless, destitute or otherwise adversely affected by the hurricane.

Visit http://www.travelweekly.com/ or http://www.cnn.com/ for more information.