The British Columbia port communities of Nanaimo, Port
Alberni, Prince Rupert, Victoria and Vancouver are expected to enjoy a total
increase of 75 percent over 2012 in the number of cruise itineraries with two
or more calls, according to a newly released study.
“The growth we are seeing for 2013 translates into an
economic boost for the region, bringing additional economic activity to local
restaurants, hotels, shops and tours,” Cruise BC Chair Carmen Ortega said.
Cruise lines are offering 35 different itineraries in total
in 2013 according to the economic impact study, released jointly by Cruise BC,
the Cruise Lines International Association – North West and Canada and other
cruise associations across Canada.
The study showed that British Columbia ports continue to be
the largest cruise region in Canada, accounting for 57 percent of Canadian
cruise traffic and welcoming nearly 1.2 million passengers in 2012. Vancouver
and Victoria are the first and second largest cruise ports in Canada,
respectively.
The study also found that BC accounted for about two thirds
of the national economic impacts of the Canadian cruise industry in 2012, with
$1.56 billion in total industry outputs and 12,252 jobs paying $532 million in
wage income. Direct spending by cruise lines, passengers and crew amounted to
$790 million in BC in 2012.
