Washington DC, Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cruise industry contributed $2.37 billion to California’s economy in 2016, increasing slightly since 2014 and accounting for 11 percent of the cruise industry’s spending nationwide, 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 California generated total economic impacts of 47,801 jobs and $2.99 billion in wages and salaries.
“We see positive economic effects of the cruise industry spreading into every state, with California near the helm,” said Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA’s president and CEO. “San Francisco showed continued growth in embarkations, San Diego showed an increase in embarkations for the first time in five years, while Los Angeles and Long Beach continue to account for the majority of the state’s embarkations. Strong, continued growth in embarkations throughout California’s ports only helps the state’s economy.”
Passenger Embarkations
Passenger embarkations across California’s four major cruise ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San Francisco) totaled 1.06 million, reaching one million for the first time since 2010. Embarkations in San Francisco increased 18 percent since 2014; San Diego’s embarkations increased 10.3 percent. Los Angeles and Long Beach’s 891,000 embarkations account for 84 percent of all embarkations in California. Combined, all four ports increased embarkations 7.5 percent since 2014.
Cruise Passenger and Crew Spending in California
According to CLIA’s study, cruising at California ports generated 2.1 million passenger and crew visits, representing 8.8 percent of all passenger and crew visits in the U.S. These visits produced $144 million in passenger and crew onshore spending, or approximately $68 per visit. Due to an increase in passenger and crew visits, total passenger and crew spending in California increased 9 percent since 2014.
2016 CLIA Economic Impact Analysis
| California | Total | Share of the U.S. (percent) |
| Passenger Embarkations | 1,058,000 | 9.1 |
| Resident Cruise Passengers | 1,391,000 | 12.1 |
| Total Passenger & Crew Visits | 2,120,000 | 8.8 |
| Direct Expenditures ($ Millions) | $2,374 | 10.9 |
| Total Employment Impact | 47,801 | 12.3 |
| Total Wage Impact ($ Millions) | $2,988 | 14.5 |
Additional findings from CLIA’s study:
- The cruise industry directly employed nearly 2,200 Californians, representing approximately 6.3 percent of the total employment of all cruise lines throughout the U.S.
- Tourism-related industries received approximately $911 million, or 38 percent of the cruise industry’s $2.37 billion in direct spending in California – a 30 percent increase from 2014.
- Another $466 million was spent with businesses in three additional business segments: food processors and petroleum refiners within the manufacturing sector, and advertising agencies in the non-manufacturing 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 California 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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