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CONTACT: M. SILVER ASSOCIATES CLIA Dawn Weissman Lanie Fagan (212) 754-6500 (754) 224-2202 dawn@msilver-pr.com lfagan@cruising.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRUISE INDUSTRY SPENDING TOPS $24 MILLION, GENERATES 381 JOBS IN MAINE IN 2007
Newly-released Study Demonstrates Cruise Industry’s Positive Contributions to Maine Economy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., October 15, 2008 — The North American cruise industry contributed $24 million in direct spending to the Maine economy in 2007, according to a recently released study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This spending, in turn, generated 381 jobs paying $12 million in wage income. This represents 0.1 percent of the industry’s total U.S. direct expenditures, ranking the state forty-first in the nation in terms of cruise industry spending. Maine businesses most impacted by cruise industry spending in 2007 included:business services and government, $9.0 million and manufacturing, $8.3 million. With Bar Harbor, Portland, Bangor, Eastport and Rockland serving as either a port of embarkation or ports of call, Maine is a popular seasonal cruise destination. It also supports the industry with a wide range of goods and services. “The cruise industry continues to make an impressive contribution to the economic well-being of the country and Maine plays a significant role as one of the beneficiaries of industry spending and job creation,” said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2007 study was conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA)in Exton, Pa., and analyzes the economic benefits to the U.S. economy from five principal sources: spending by cruise passengers and crew; shoreside staffing by cruise lines in U.S. cities; expenditures by cruise lines for goods and services; U.S. port services; and vessel maintenance and repair. Nationwide, the North American cruise industry continued to have a significant and growing impact on the U.S. economy in 2007, positively affecting every state in the country. Cruise line and passenger spending generated a total of $38 billion in gross economic output, a 6.4 percent increase over 2006, and generated 354,700 American jobs paying $15.4 billion in wages and salaries. Direct spending by cruise lines, their employees and passengers totaled $18.7 billion. The full economic study and summary can be downloaded from CLIA’s Web site, www.cruising.org.
# # # About CLIA The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America’s largest cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 24 member lines and participates in the regulatory and policy development process while supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations and counts as members 16,000 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org/.
The CruiseMaine Coalition in partnership with the Maine Port Authority and the communities of Bangor, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Camden, Eastport, Freeport, Kennebunk-Kennebunkport, Portland, Rockland and several Associate Members including Chase Leavitt & Co., Discover New England, Down East Magazine, FlyBangor, GetEtched, Maine & Co., Maine Office of Tourism, Maine Tourism Association, Maine Department of Transportation, Penobscot Bay & River Pilot’s Association, and the Washington County Commissioner’s Office works to promote these communities to the travel trade, travel media and cruise industry as attractive cruise destinations. We also provide the relative community and business support necessary for these areas to become and remain viable, productive cruise destinations while promoting cultural preservation and responsible tourism.
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