By
Rebecca Gibson |
New York’s cruise industry could generate an economic impact of more than US$230 million if local tourism groups work together to develop new initiatives, according to the New York Cruise Ship Alliance (NYCSA).
The NYCSA is to work with local tourism groups to advocate initiatives that create additional jobs, generate expanded economic activity and make further use of the city’s passenger ship piers in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
“Competition is a powerful force that drives the tourism industry worldwide and our challenge is to ensure that New York’s leadership role as a primary north-east port of embarkation for cruise ships of every flag remains strong,” said Dionne Broadus, director of the NYCSA. “Our goal is to work more closely with key tourism groups and to support the cruise industry’s growth in New York, which in turn will have a positive economic impact for the region. Working together, we believe the industry’s local economic impact can well exceed US$230 million over time.”
According to Broadus, the NYCSA aims to boost the city’s ports to help overcome the many challenges it faces from factors outside of the cruise industry.
“Many of the factors that would allow for additional benefits for the city’s economy are dependent on forces outside its control, including the cost of fuel and berthing accommodations offered by destination nations,” Broadus said. “To protect us from those uncertainties, we want as robust and dynamic a cruise ship port as possible here in New York.”
A report issued by the New York City Economic Development Corporation reveals that while the city handled 620,000 passenger embarkations on its homeporting ships, lower numbers of transiting passengers meant the ports only welcomed an estimated 87,000 passengers and crew in total. This marked a 4.4 % decrease from 2011.
In addition, both passenger and crew spending has declined by 3.7% from 2011. Last year, embarking passengers spent an estimated US$118.9 million, while onshore crew spent another US$18.7 million and transiting passengers spent US$3.6 million. Many of these passengers stayed overnight in New York, spending an average of US$437 per passenger during a two-night stay.
“We need to appreciate that the industry’s ability to continue to sustain and grow these kinds of economic benefits is at risk from outside forces that impact New York,” said Broadus. “This includes competitive efforts from other eastern seaboard port cities to lure visitors, escalating fuel costs and the restrictive berthing policies of destination vacation ports. It is not a challenge we intend to ignore.”
Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, added: "The cruise ship industry is an integral part of the region's economy and a job creator on both sides of the Hudson. We look forward to working with the alliance on shared goals as the port authority continues to invest in the critical infrastructure needed to support this vital industry in Brooklyn and Bayonne.”