Grenada is in the process of making major improvements to its yachting services. Talks are being held between Camper & Nicholsons Marinas (C&NM) management and officials from Government and private sector to look at how Grenada can be more efficient and welcoming to visiting yachts. C&NM Chairman Nick Maris and Operations Director James Beaver have already met with Minister of Tourism Honorable Glynis Roberts and Minister of Foreign Affairs Honorable Peter David, to assess what is being done and how this can be improved.

The meetings between Government and Camper & Nicholsons Marinas focused heavily on what Government can do to improve the experience of yachting visitors to Grenada.  Topics discussed included: improving customs and immigration procedures; instituting online clearance procedures like “E-Sea Clear;” and starting discussions with St. Vincent with the view of making it easier to sail through the Grenadines with as little as hassle as possible. These initiatives it is believed, will help open up Grenada and the Grenadines as one of the top yachting destinations in the Caribbean while at the same time making Grenada a great spot to home port from before travelling North through the Grenadine islands.

This will mean increased revenues at the airport and more business for provisioning and other yachting related services offered on island.

The Government and C&NM representatives all agreed that Grenada is already a very attractive and desirable destination for yachts but that more could be done. “We have to ensure that the yachting community is well served,” said Minister of Tourism Glynis Roberts. “Government has been working very closely with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas to ensure that our yachting product is the best and most competitive in the Caribbean. I am satisfied that we are making steady progress and am confident that Grenada will become the premier Yachting destination in the region.”

During the meeting the Ministers of Tourism and Foreign Affairs were also brought up to date with C&NM plans for the coming yachting season. C&NM Chairman Nick Maris says he expects a robust 2009-2010 season. “We have done extensive marketing in many important destinations throughout the world. Recently, we attended the Monaco Yacht show where we promoted Grenada and Port Louis heavily. We expect that this type of exposure will pay off,” the Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Chairman remarked.