Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Officially kicking off what analysts predict will be a record-breaking year, the first cruise ship of the season has arrived in Vancouver. It’s a much-needed boost for British Columbia’s tourism industry, which is still reeling from the effects of the epidemic.
“During the height of the pandemic, when there were no cruise ships in the harbour, many businesses—particularly in downtown Vancouver— suffered significantly. Some even closed because they rely on the cruise traffic,” said Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC to CTV News.
“The Port of Vancouver’s cruise comeback story is a testament to the exceptional work and dedication that industry has led to adapt and renew the sector,” said Mandy Chan, manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency responsible for facilitating Canadian trade through the Port of Vancouver.
The Sapphire Princess docked in Vancouver early Wednesday morning, carrying around 1,700 passengers.
The average passenger on any seven day journey spends about $1,000 in port,” said Judas.
Between April 12 and October 24, 331 cruise ships are planned to visit the Canada Place cruise terminal in the Port of Vancouver. This is an increase of around 8% above ship trips in 2022.
According to Barry Penner, legal counsel to the Cruise Lines International Association, between 75 and 80 percent of cruise visitors to Vancouver are not Canadian.
“They’ve come from other places to be here to initiate their cruise as it heads up to Alaska, and that is what drives so much of the economic benefit of those foreign dollars and currencies flowing into our economy here,” said Penner.
A record 1.3 million passengers could travel through Vancouver this season.
“As those people come and go from the ships, they spend money in town, they take other tours, they go up to Grouse Mountain, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, they go through Stanley Park on bus tours, and so on. So there’s that ripple effect,” said Penner.
For each ship that visits Canada Place, the Vancouver cruise industry contributes over $3 million to the local economy. It also creates roughly 7,000 employment in Canada, pays $300 million in salaries, and contributes $840 million to the national economy.
“The tourism sector is one of the top sectors in the province. It’s absolutely vital. Virtually every community around B.C. is in tourism in some capacity. So we want to rebuild this sector back to where it was. Build it back better.” said Judas.
Cruise ships returned to the Port of Vancouver in April after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions.
The Koningsdam, the season’s final cruise ship, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 24.
Tags: cruise ship, Vancouver tourism
Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
