BTA: 20K Cruise Passengers & Crew This Week
Up to 20,000 cruise ship passengers and crew are moving through Bermuda’s tourism economy as cruise calls traverse all three of the Island’s ports this week, the BTA said, adding that between April 11 and April 18, nine ships are scheduled to arrive carrying up to 12,981 passengers and 7,734 crew.
“We have been working on increased activity this year for stakeholders in Hamilton and St. George and now it’s happening,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s chief product and experiences development officer.
The AIDAvita cruise ship in St George’s earlier this week:
“Since 2014, we have been strategically targeting the premium cruise ship brands to come to Bermuda because they often have smaller ships that are able to fit into our smaller ports. We’re seeing the fruits of that labour now.
“And perhaps more importantly, these cruise lines often carry passengers willing to spend more when they visit a destination.”
The BTA said, “This week Hamilton will see three calls, St. George will see two and Dockyard will have four ships in port. For the year, Hamilton cruise calls are expected to go up from 15 to 18 and St. George cruise calls will go up from two to four.
Mrs. Phillip-Fairn said: “The percentage increases of calls for Hamilton and St. George are up sharply and these calls are precious because there is a limited number of small ships in this part of the world.
The Silver Spirit docked in Hamilton today
“That’s why we encourage our stakeholders to stay keenly aware of when these ships arrive. We want to make sure they don’t miss these opportunities to welcome cruise visitors and win their business. That could mean opening early and staying open late if that’s what it takes.
“We’re happy they have the opportunity to decide how best to take advantage of these increased calls.”
The BTA added, “The latest projections for 2016 forecast a percentage increase in economic impact from cruise passenger and crew expenditure as a result of a greater number of cruise calls and a greater number of visitors with higher spending capacity.
“In 2015, there was an estimated economic impact of $71 million from cruise tourism, a combination of government taxes, cruise passenger expenditure and crew member expenditure.”
The full 2016 Cruise Ship Schedule follows below [PDF here]:
$71 million from 2015 cruise tourism, 6 more million and we can fund another America’s Cup.
Do you understand the phrase “you have to spend money to make money?”. This is common in business and the tourism industry is no different. Without investment there will be no growth. The America’s Cup might have come with a hefty price tag, but the short term and long term economic and social impacts that this event will have on Bermuda are far reaching and well worth the investment.
Why do you even bother,they will NEVER understand. Can’t you see they have an agenda.
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”.
Who is this “they” you are referring to?
I only see a comment from one person…..Onion Juice…….”he or she will never understand” would be more appropriate to say.
The time taken to criticize could be used to enlighten, enrich and educate.
Some people have no point of reference for concepts such as “pump priming”, since you are so knowledgable how about…..each one teach one.
Knew I was going to get a similar response the minute I hit “SUBMIT COMMENT”.
For clarification; the THEY is referring to the Betty’s, Onion Juice and other cheerleaders who consistently come on here with nothing but negativity. As a note; I am not politically attached and will as quickly put my mark down to vote OUT the current government as I put it down to voted IN the PLP.
I just take offense when LIES are consistently spread for political gains.
As i said numerous times before; the PLP needs to work at winning the Government back, and NOT inheriting it by default as the only other option.
Tee-shirt and trinket sales should be booming.
So how do you think U.B.P. won it, know de swing vote fools are kicking themselves in de @$$.
Sorry if I may be misunderstanding you… but are you referring to the current OBA Government?
Because if you’re asking…. and I can’t speak for other voters….. it was because the PLP was running the country in the GROUND…. and that be FACTS!!!!
Am I kicking myself in de @$$???? No… I cut my foot off after the 2003 election when the Leader of the party I voted for was dumped…. a sign of what was to come in the “era of deception” to follow.
Quite right. And the Americas Cup itself will generate way in in excess of what it is costing, so everyone’s a winner.
Happy to see that you’re finally seeing how economics work, Onion Juice.
funny… stores still empty on reid st this afternoon
Did you try the bars and restuarants at Dockyard or St Georges? Or the concessions at the beaches? Or speak with the taxi operators?
Or are you just happy to sit and look for faults where, in reality, there may not be any?
They were empty as well
They did not come on cruise ships to go to complete office or gibbons to buy things…
People always find a way to try to be negative.
Hamburgers and t-shirts.
So you’re telling me that people didn’t go on vacation to run errands on a beautiful afternoon? Crazy!
wow, fantastic news. I hope the buses, taxis, mini-buses etc are up to the task – a great opportunity for them?
Many bitch about Bermudas lacking in tourism and ultimately business yet when it finally arrives they aren’t content and still wanna complain
You want to prosper or decline but you can’t have it both ways…
Well the bus ticket office is closed
Your point?
Them that can interfere, will at any point in time without consideration for the less fortuneate
Restaurants, bike rental companies, taxis & buses usually do better with these small ships than other types of businesses, in my experience. Generally, these small ship passengers don’t spend a whole lot in the other stores.
People don’t always need new clothes or useless souvenirs but everyone has to eat.
However they do get out and enjoy Bermuda and when they return to their homelands, they talk about their trip to other people and create ‘word of mouth’ advertising so having them visit us is still very beneficial.
Hi BTA
please can you get someone at Tourism to convert the Cruise ship schedule into an is file so those in the business can upload it to their calendars??
No one does paper anymore…
Or better still setup as an rss feed so that we get all updates automagically…??!!
Can the BTA let us know as a community the economic impact of a cruise passenger versus a resident tourist? Let’s cut to the chase… We are now focusing on cruise ship passengers as our source of tourist dollars instead of the resident tourist which is nonsense. I still say this Authoity is a waste of dollars they have done nothing to increase air arrivals. Any destination can bring in mega ships, but iit has the least effective multiplier impact on the local economy.