Cruise Industry Spends $2.2 Billion, Generates 48,000 Jobs in California

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 15 FL-CruiseIndstryInCA


2007 Study Demonstrates Cruise Industry's Positive Contributions to California Economy 



FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American cruise industry contributed $2.18 billion in direct spending to the California economy in 2007, an increase of 14 percent over the previous year, according to a recently released study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). 



This spending, in turn, generated 47,978 jobs paying nearly $2.4 billion in income. This represents 12 percent of the industry's total U.S. direct expenditures, maintaining the state's No. 2 ranking in the country in terms of spending.



Last year, over 1.3 million people, comprising nearly 15 percent of total U.S. cruise embarkations, boarded their cruises from one of California's four cruise ports -- Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco. 



"The cruise industry continues to make an impressive contribution to the economic well-being of the country and California plays a significant role as one of the leading 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.



Among other key California findings:

California's tourism-related businesses such as travel agencies, airlines, hotels, restaurants and providers of ground transportation were the main beneficiaries of the cruise industry's $2.2 billion in spending, receiving $798 million. 
Another $672 million was spent with businesses in the following sectors: food processors, ship repair companies, petroleum refiners, advertising agencies and insurance companies. 
California residents that cruised in 2007 totaled 1.3 million, accounting for 14 percent of all U.S. cruise passengers.
Two California ports ranked in the nation's top 10 for passenger embarkations: Los Angeles (ranking: fourth) and Long Beach (ranking: ninth). 
Port embarkations in 2007: Los Angeles (581,000); Long Beach (370,000); San Diego (341,000); San Francisco (42,000).
California benefits as the primary home of cruise line headquarters for Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Crystal Cruises and Uniworld Grand River Cruises.




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 16,500 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.





SOURCE  Cruise Lines International Association