British Columbia cruise ports recently wrapped up a successful 2011 season with an 8% increase in total passengers over the previous year. The communities of Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Victoria welcomed 1.2 million cruise passengers on a total 435 calls in 2011, generating a total economic impact of $1.3 billion to the BC economy. Direct passenger and crew spending added up to $185 million and cruise line spending was $367 million in the province while overall business tax contributions were $50 million, CRUISE BC said in a statement.
"The growth in this year's cruise visitations is a positive sign that the industry is turning the corner from the challenges of the previous few years" said Cruise BC Chair Doug Peterson. "More cruise ships are being positioned on the west coast to take advantage of the strength of the Alaskan cruise theatre. BC cruise ports play a key role as both homeports and destinations during the summer cruise season. The economic generation from the direct and indirect spending is a significant benefit to both the individual communities and also to the province as a whole."
The 2011 cruise season saw multiple highlights and benefits extending across different regions of the province:
* Success in Nanaimo's 2011 cruise season came not only in the form of a 26% increase in passengers from 2010, but also in the form of permanent infrastructure upgrades to the community.
* The city of Victoria also had multiple reasons to celebrate. In addition to once again leading Canadian ports in the number of cruise calls, with a total of 206 calls and 440,000 passengers, Victoria also welcomed its 4 millionth cruise guest to the city in August 2011. Victoria was also home of Disney Cruise Line's first ever call to a British Columbian port on May 2nd. In addition to the Disney Wonder, Victoria also enjoyed inaugural calls by the Oceania Regatta, the Celebrity Century and the P&O's Arcadia.
* The Prince Rupert Port Authority's 2011 season concluded with more than 50,000 cruise passengers arriving on 21 ship calls from May through September. Two inaugural calls were made by the Oceania Regatta and the Norwegian Pearl, with weekly calls by Norwegian Cruise Lines. In the fall of 2010, PRPA engaged a study to evaluate Prince Rupert as a port of call on Alaskan itineraries. The results of this report were used to enhance the port's facilities and tourism offerings.
* Vancouver recently concluded a successful 2011 Vancouver-Alaska cruise season, posting a 15 per cent increase in passengers over 2010. Between May and October 2011, the Port welcomed 663,425 passengers on 27 different vessels and 199 cruise ship calls. New in 2011, Port Metro Vancouver welcomed Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder and Oceania Cruises' Regatta for the first time, with both vessels home porting in Vancouver during their inaugural seasons in the Alaska market. Vancouver also saw the return of Crystal Cruises to Alaska with the Crystal Symphony making 10 port calls in Vancouver.
