Grenada Cruise Terminal

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The Grenada Cruise Market Development:

The Grenada Cruise Terminal Project

The success of the Duty Free Centre and other facilities in the Grenada Cruise Port area dependant on the flow of cruise passengers, cruise ship crews, stay-over tourists and locals who visit the shops and restaurants provided by the Centre. In January 2001, Zublin retained Bermello Ajamil/Lambert Advisory Group, a Miami based consultancy, to carry out a cruise market analysis on order to assess Grenada’s market position in the southern Caribbean, as well as a retail analysis. The reports, which have been updated since Hurricane Ivan both showed promising development prospects in the overall markets, and indicated growth potential for the island, in comparison with its neighbours.

The retained Advisory Group conducted several on-sight investigations in Grenada and its neighbouring islands, and analysed public data provided by local governments and agencies. Its analysis of Grenada’s potential cruise passenger and retail business growth was based on a synthesis of three different methodologies: Historic Trend Analysis, which extrapolates historic trends based on assumptions; Market Capture Analysis, which analyses how much of expected future growth may actually be “captured” by the respective location; and Scenario Based Forecasts, which attempt to bring market, economic, and political factors, etc. into the analysis. 

In conclusion, the Advisory Group finds support for a forecasted range of cruise passenger arrivals to Grenada of between 250,000 to 300,000 in 2005 and 500,000 to 600,000 in 2016. Within Grenada, the Cruise Port is expected to be the greatest beneficiary from these potential increases.

The latest data from the Grenada Board of Tourism are exactly in line with the forecasts of the Advisory Group and show for the year 2003/04 238,000 pax, and the latest estimates for 2004/05 (including the cancellations due to Hurricane Ivan)  275,000 pax. These numbers have been used as basis for our calculation model on page 14. 

The Landside Development

Over four hectares of new land have been created as the result of a well engineered and balanced dredging operation. This new land will provide, among other things, the upland support and logistics needed to rapidly move passengers in and out of the port by foot, mini-bus, taxi, or boat.

Approximately 1 hectare of the reclaimed lands has been exclusively reserved for facilities for the tourist industry. These facilities comprise an integrated Visitor Welcome Centre and Duty Free Retail centre containing an area of over 6.000 sq. meters, and an adjacent parking area of 3000 sq. meters   --- also to be used as a bus station for organised tours, and a taxi stand during cruise ship visits.

The remaining area of the reclaimed land is available for (third party) real estate development. Zublin has undertaken a land-swap with the Government of Grenada which allows for the realization of a new bus station with a public parking deck at the top of it at the north side of the new lands. This facility is almost completed and will assist in bringing an end to the traffic congestion in the town centre.  The lands which have been hosting the old public bus station along Bruce and Melville Streets will shortly be available for third party real estate development.

Various lots for third party development have been sold and construction of a bank building as well as a supermarket will commence in the course of this year.  The development has boosted mitigating measures undertaken by the Government, such as the renewal of the Market Square, and the total renovation of both Melville and Bruce Streets --- including pavements, pedestrian walkways and all underground facilities. 

The most attractive element of the new Cruise Port from the vantage point of the passenger, however, is that the port and upland areas are being built to enhance and serve as a natural extension of the historic centre of St. George.  St. George was principally developed in the early 1800’s and is an excellent example of Georgian Architecture, which serves as an important beacon of the cultural heritage of the West Indies.

Existing streets of the town are extended to the new waterfront, and new buildings on the property will maintain the quaint character of St. George’s. The pier is only a block away from the famous and recently renovated Spice Market, which constantly maintains the wonderful sweet scents of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, and ginger.

The development strategy has been laid down in a Master Plan and a set of Design & Development guidelines, which have been approved by the Government, These documents hold the project initiators and third party developers to maintain the historical character of St. George’s as a typical West Indian town.

Since the Cruise Port is situated directly adjacent to the centre of St. Georges, this feature is considered as being one of the major assets of Grenada as a cruise ship destination.

Building the Cruise Terminal Building will be constructed as a one story building and be situated between the outer end of Granby Street and the Visitor Welcome Centre, subsequently creating a direct connection between the cruise ship jetty and the old town of St. George.