Cayman Islands residents are among the most digitally active populations in the Caribbean when it comes to searching for products and services online, but the vast majority stop short of completing a purchase, according to findings from the 2026 Tower Consumer Survey.
The survey found that 95 per cent of respondents use Google or other search engines to find local businesses, a figure that has grown six percentage points year on year. A further 38 per cent said one of the three main things they use the internet for is searching for local products and services, while 31 per cent search for international products.
However, only 16 per cent of respondents reported actually purchasing products or services online from local businesses, and just 11 per cent purchased internationally. The gap between digital discovery and digital transaction suggests that Cayman’s online commercial infrastructure has not kept pace with consumer search behaviour.
'What the data tells us is that residents are ready to buy,' said a Tower representative. 'They are actively searching for local products and services at very high rates. The question is why that intent is not converting into transactions. Whether the barriers are trust, payment systems, delivery logistics, or simply the absence of an online purchasing option, this represents a significant commercial opportunity for local businesses that can close that gap.'
The 35 to 54 age group is the most commercially active segment online, with 19 per cent purchasing locally and 12 per cent internationally. This group also records the highest rates of local product searching at 39 per cent. Among those aged 18 to 34, local purchasing drops to seven per cent and international purchasing to two per cent, despite this group spending an average of 9.6 hours per day on the internet.
Lower-income households present a particularly notable pattern. Respondents earning less than US$3,000 per month are the heaviest searchers for local products at 63 per cent, yet their local purchasing rate sits at 25 per cent. Middle-income households ($3,001 to $6,000) search at 52 per cent but purchase locally at 18 per cent.
'The lower-income segment is doing the most active research into local products,' the Tower representative added. 'Businesses that can offer accessible, affordable online purchasing options for this group stand to benefit the most.'
The Cayman Islands Yellow Pages saw a notable resurgence as a business discovery tool, rising nine points to 21 per cent, while eCay Online experienced a sharp decline from 24 per cent to 10 per cent.
The 2026 Tower Consumer Survey interviewed 502 Cayman residents by telephone between November 2025 and January 2026 using a random digit selection process. The margin of error is 4.4 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level. The full survey covers internet and media usage, social media behaviour, traditional media consumption, artificial intelligence adoption, lifestyle, travel, and consumer attitudes.
Tower Marketing has conducted the Consumer Survey regularly since 2006. Full results are available to survey sponsors and clients.