Cruise BC has released economic impact data from the 2014 cruise season which shows the cruise industry in Prince Rupert remains big business despite the reduced schedule.
According to information posed at allaboard.cruisebc.ca, 50 per cent of the 3,394 passengers who called on Prince Rupert participated in one of the 11 shore excursions offered in the community. Between them, the 1,700 passengers accounted for more than $185,000 in sales for the eight tour companies offering excursion, equating to approximately $23,000 per company and more than $100 spent per passenger. Data for passengers who did not take excursions was not immediately available.
The information was part of the launch of Cruise BC's summer-long @AllAboardBC twitter campaign to promote awareness of the importance of the industry and recognize businesses that benefit either directly or indirectly from cruise.
"B.C. businesses are an integral part of cruise visitors' pre and post-cruise experience. We wanted to have some fun acknowledging the BC brands that are partners and benefactors in cruise tourism," said Cruise BC president Jeff Stromdahl of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
For the 2014 season a total economic benefit of $1.79 billion to the province was attributed to the cruise travel business. For more information about the impact of cruise, visit allaboardcruisebc.ca.