By
Rebecca Gibson |
The results of an economic impact study commissioned by the Northwest and Canada Cruise Association (NWCCA) and its destination partners indicate that the Canadian cruise industry generated CAD$2.38 billion in 2012, after 1,100 cruise ship called at the country's ports.
“We are very pleased to see growth in both overall economic impact and per passenger spending,” said Greg Wirtz, president of the NWCCA. “We are happy to see cruise ship visits expanding into new ports in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.”
The report was prepared by the Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) and highlights that 2.05 million cruise passenger visits generated CAD$1.16 billion in direct spending, while an additional CAD$1.22 billion was generated by indirect spending. Both the direct and indirect economic impact combined to generate 7,661 jobs and CAD$780 million in wages.
Cruise lines contributed CAD$675 million towards the Canadian economy, spending CAD$113 million on professional and business services, CAD$87.4 million in fuel costs and CAD$86.5 million on machinery and equipment. Passengers spent CAD $93.3 million on tours and transport, CAD$83.1 million on accommodation and CAD$45.4 million in the retail sector, generating CAD$448 million for the economy. Cruise ship crew members contributed a total of CAD$33 million, which consisted of retail sales at CAD$22.7 million, food and beverage at CAD$9.4 million and CAD$1.1 million on tours and transportation.
The BREA report involved the NWCCA, its member cruise lines and its destination partners, the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association, the Cruise the St Lawrence Association and Cruise BC. In total, 18,000 passenger and crew surveys were completed across seven ports in Canada.