Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Shopping on
Grand Cayman
Shopping on the C
ayman Islands has drastically
improved because of all the ne w business generated b y cr uise ship
arrivals. Although the Cayman I slands are definitely not a shopping
destination in the league of S t. Thomas and S t. Maarten, the Cay-
mans do offer a v ast array of mer chandise, most of it impor ted.
Because ther e's no sales tax, y ou'll find duty-fr ee shopping galor e,
ranging from jewelry and toys to coral and rum cakes.
1
THE SHOPPING SCENE
You can get good deals her e on island-made ar t, crafts, and other
products. M any local souv enirs tend to be a bit cheesy , but some
handicrafts—such as those made of various types of coral—are artistic
statements in their o wn right and hav e mor e lasting v alue. Jewelry
fashioned from caymanite, a hard, marble-like stone harvested in the
cliffs of Cayman B rac, is especially popular. In recent years, local art
has made gr eater and gr eater strides, finding a r eady market among
the constantly arriving cr uise ship passengers and expat villa o wners
who want to brighten up their surr oundings.
Many products, including jewelry, are fashioned from black coral.
Eco-sensitive visitors urge other travelers not to purchase these prod-
ucts. Much of the black coral comes from Central American countries
such as H onduras and B elize. The Cayman I slands themselves have
strong marine laws to pr otect their r eefs, but countries to the south
often do not, and the coral reefs can be seriously harmed or damaged
when harvested. Since black coral is known to grow at a rate of 7.6cm
(3 in.) every decade, it qualifies as an endanger ed species.
Because the Cayman I slands are under the r ule of G reat Britain,
you can sometimes get good deals on B ritish imports. You'll find an
array of top-quality je welry, some of it equal to je welry in the stor es
of London, Paris, and New York.
Grand Cayman, especially ar ound G eorge Town, abounds with
imported luxur y items. F or example, y ou might find F rench and
American per fumes; S panish, F rench, and S wedish cr ystal; S wiss
watches; pr emium liquor; J apanese cameras; and E
nglish china.
