Today’s first cruise ship visit since Hurricane Irma is a significant moment in the recovery process. It should also give an idea how prepared the island is to begin restoring its former dominant position within the industry.
Much clearly remains to be done, including the announced creation of a temporary marketplace at Kim Sha to accommodate the cruise lines. The site is scheduled to be completed mid-December, when the larger vessels are expected back.
Despite all the work during the past three months to clean up and repair the enormous mess created by the record storm, many passengers will surely notice the still-visible scars left behind. Most of them surely have heard what happened here, so it shouldn’t be a major shock and – let’s face it – some may be curious to see the damage as well.
Important is for the destination to put its best foot forward under difficult circumstances. That depends on the product, including attractions and facilities, but also depends on people. Human contact and how guests are treated has a huge impact on the quality of their vacation experience.
“The Friendly Island” enjoys an excellent track record where the latter is concerned. Although the current situation presents certain challenges, if everyone involved does what they do best and makes a maximum effort, the Viking Sea visit will undoubtedly be a success, marking a promising start in the revival of the local tourism economy on which the entire population depends one way or the other.
