By
Alex Smith |
A study engaged by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and its destination partners has revealed that cruise tourism generated a record $4.27 billion in direct expenditure in the Caribbean and Latin America during the 2023-2024 cruise season.
According to Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, produced by market research company Business Research & Economic Advisors, expenditure was 27 per cent higher than the record set in 2018 at the time of its previous study. The study also found that cruise tourism supported over 94,000 jobs paying more than $1.27 billion in wage income in the 33 participating destinations.
The research also revealed that destinations received 29.4 million onshore visits from cruise passengers, with an average spend of $104.36, generating a total of $3.07 billion. Around 3.9 million visits were made by crew, with an average spend of $58.78, generating $229.5 million. Cruise lines themselves spent $968.3 million, an average of $29.3 million per destination.
The 33.3 million passenger and crew visits represent a 13 per cent increase compared to the previous study, and the 31 destinations included in both the 2018 and 2024 studies experienced a 17 per cent increase in passenger visits. Average spend also increased for 26 of these 31 destinations, while 14 destinations recorded average spend rates above $100 per passenger, up from 12 in 2018. On average, a single transit call with 4,000 passengers and 1,640 crew generates $369,100 in passenger and crew spending.
The study measured direct spending impacts through passenger surveys and crew surveys; cruise line spending for services and provisions; port revenues; and employment generated by cruise ship calls. Measurements of economic impacts, meanwhile, was calculated by collecting data from local government agencies, regional development agencies and international economic agencies to evaluate impacts on employment, wages, port fees and taxes.
The FCCA revealed the research at its 30th annual Cruise Conference & Trade Show in St. Maarten.
“We could not be prouder of these results and what they mean for the lives and livelihoods of so many throughout the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Michele Paige, CEO of the FCCA. “In addition to showing what cruise tourism brings to these destinations’ economies, many of the study’s findings will also serve as the foundation of building further mutual success between cruise lines and destination stakeholders.”