Washington DC, Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cruise industry contributed $1.07 billion to Alaska’s economy in 2016, up slightly from 2014, according to a new study from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the largest cruise industry trade association and the leading authority of the global cruise community.
CLIA’s 2016 Economic Impact Analysis, an independent study commissioned by CLIA and conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), shows that the cruise industry’s direct expenditures in Alaska generated total economic impacts of 19,842 jobs and $991 million in wages and salaries.
“We see positive economic effects of the cruise industry spreading into every state, including Alaska,” said Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA’s president and CEO. “Alaska is the premier cruise destination market in the United States, and the incredible amount of passenger and crew visits – just shy of 5 million -- benefit the state in the form of passenger and cruise spending for shore excursions, pre- and post-cruise stays, food and beverages, and retail.”
Cruise Passenger and Crew Spending in Alaska
According to CLIA’s study, cruising from Alaska’s ports generated 4.9 million passenger and crew visits, a 4.2 percent increase from 2014. These visits – accounting for 20.3 percent of all passenger and crew visits in the U.S. -- produced $524 million in passenger and crew onshore spending, or nearly $107 per visit.
2016 CLIA Economic Impact Analysis
| Alaska | Total | Share of the U.S. (percent) |
| Passenger Embarkations | 157,000 | 1.3 |
| Resident Cruise Passengers | 9,000 | 0.1 |
| Total Passenger & Crew Visits | 4,897,000 | 20.3 |
| Direct Expenditures ($ Millions) | $1,065 | 4.9 |
| Total Employment Impact | 19,842 | 5.1 |
| Total Wage Impact ($ Millions) | $991 | 4.8 |
Additional findings from CLIA’s study:
- Alaska’s ports received about 3.3 million cruise passenger visits or approximately 63 percent of all port-of-call cruise passenger visits at U.S. ports. The three busiest ports - Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway - accounted for more than 80 percent of all passenger visits to Alaska. The remaining 19 percent were distributed among seven additional locations and accounted for approximately 535,000 visits.
- Cruise lines employ an annual average of approximately 2,100 full- and part-time employees in Alaska.
- Tourism-related industries received approximately $678 million, or 64 percent of the cruise industry’s direct spending in Alaska.
- Another $59 million was spent with businesses in five additional business segments: food processors and petroleum refiners and distributors within the manufacturing sector, and employment agencies, trucking companies and utilities in the nonmanufacturing sector.
Top Ten States
According to CLIA’s study, the top ten states benefitting economically from the cruise industry are:
Top Ten States Benefitting Economically from the Global Cruise Industry
| 1. Florida | 6. Washington |
| 2. California | 7. Georgia |
| 3. Texas | 8. Illinois |
| 4. New York | 9. Massachusetts |
| 5. Alaska | 10. New Jersey |
Source: CLIA 2016 Economic Impact Analysis
Global Cruise Industry’s Contributions to the U.S. Economy
The growing economic impact from the cruise industry in Alaska reflects the industry’s increasing contribution to the U.S. economy. In 2016, cruise lines, their passengers and crew spent a record $21.69 billion in the U.S., up 15 percent since 2011 and representing a new peak in U.S. cruise industry expenditures. Total contributions[1] of the global cruise industry to the U.S. economy reached a record $47.76 billion in 2016, up 3.6 percent from 2014. This includes generating 389,432 U.S. jobs paying more than $20 billion in wages and salaries.
About the CLIA 2016 Economic Impact Analysis
The CLIA 2016 Economic Impact Analysis is an independent study conducted by BREA and commissioned by CLIA. Spending estimates were compiled based on surveys of cruise lines, passengers and crew. Economic impacts of cruise lines, passengers and crew spending were generated using generally accepted input/output methodology. Detailed methodology is outlined in the full report http://cruising.org/docs/default-source/research/us_economicimpact-100217.pdf?sfvrsn=2.
About Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – One Industry, One Voice
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. The association has 15 offices globally with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA supports policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise ship environment for the more than 24 million passengers who cruise annually and is dedicated to promote the cruise travel experience. Members are comprised of the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and cruise line suppliers and partners, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers and business services. The organization’s mission is to be the unified global organization that helps its members succeed by advocating, educating and promoting for the common interests of the cruise community. For more information, visit www.cruising.org or follow Cruise Lines International Association on CLIA Facebook and Twitter pages.
[1] Total economic contributions include direct, indirect and induced impacts. This includes direct spending by cruise lines and passengers, including food and beverages, fuel, financial and business services and entertainment in support of cruise operations, as well as the goods and services purchased by the directly impacted businesses and employees from other B2B and B2C enterprises.
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