Video: Minister Scott On 2022 Cruise Season
[Updated] Minister of Transport Lawrence Scott is holding a press conference this morning [Oct 14] on the 2022 cruise ship season. We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below.
Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the replay is below
Update 11.40am: Minister Scott’s remarks:
Good Morning.
You may have heard me often say that there is no tourism without transport, and it is in that context in which Bermuda has welcomed 310,587 cruise passengers to our shores this season, with an approximate economic impact of $131.5M. This is an increase of $28.2M in economic activity since the original projections at the beginning of the year. As of 5 October, there are 39 more calls in the fourth quarter period estimated to bring a further 63,778 passengers to Bermuda by the end of the year. To date, we have received 127 cruise calls.
The Ministry anticipates that by the end of the season, approximately 166 cruise calls, with around 374,365 passengers visiting our shores, representing 92,524 more passengers or an additional $24.9 million of economic impact than initially forecasted totalling an estimated economic impact of $156.1 million. This is $53.1 above the original projections.
This positive news is attributed to the cruise ships arriving from June through to October with an average occupancy of 76%. Further, the new survey data collected by the Bermuda Tourism Authority on cruise ship passenger spending shows an increase from $225 per person to $262 per person.
The Ministry of Transport will publish the first draft of the 2023 Cruise Ship Schedule shortly. Of particular note, 2023 is shaping to be a record year with 222 cruise ship calls on the books, which is a testament to Bermuda’s relationships with our cruise line partners led by the Section Head of Transport Planning, Stacey Evans. Now that Bermuda has opened up with COVID-19 testing ending as of 25 October, Bermuda is even more attractive, and the forecasted 2023 cruise ship numbers speak for themselves. Of the 15 cancellations, eight were due to COVID-19 testing, six due to weather, and one due to the sale of the Viking Sun. However, January 2023 has eight calls, February has three calls, and March has 13 calls scheduled. Bermuda has done a stellar job this year; thanks to all our stakeholders for a job well done. The future looks bright as starting with this season, we, Bermuda, can now boast about being a year-round cruise destination.
Thank you
now get a committee to disscuss it. then send it to arbitrade.
more hot air from the bsers
How many planned cruise ship visits were lost as a result of the TA form, and what was the gross cost to our economy?
A question that should have been put to the house, but of course we don’t have anybody in the OBA with the guts (and that’s putting it lightly) to ask it.
Sounds great as long as the cruises are real. At least the income can be used to offset the MRG at the airport since the BTA is so useless at getting air arrivals. Shame Bermuda has to pay twice – once for the BTA and second for the MRG – but that seems the norm under the PLP who don’t demand accountability.
Utterly deluded. The world is busy and we are not. We have a terrible government.