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Study: Florida is U.S. cruise capital

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with LandQwest Commercial

October 17th, 2008 News


Florida leads the nation, not only in the number of passengers leaving on their cruises from the state's ports, but also in the number of residents who take cruise vacations, according to a study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association.

The study found that North American cruise industry contributed $6.06 billion in direct spending to Florida's economy in 2007, up 3.6 percent from the previous year. That spending generated 126,546 jobs and $5.2 billion in income.

Last year, nearly 5 million people boarded cruise ships from one of five Florida ports - Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Tampa and Jacksonville.

Floridians made up nearly 2.3 million, or 25 percent, of all U.S. resident passengers.

Among other key Florida findings:

 • Florida's tourism-related businesses - such as travel agencies, airlines, hotels, restaurants and those that provide ground transportation - were the main beneficiaries of the cruise industry's $6.06 billion in spending, receiving $2.4 billion.

• An additional $835 million was spent with businesses in the following sectors: food processors, chemical manufacturers, advertising agencies, management and technical consulting companies, and manpower agencies.

• Florida continues to have the nation's top three ports for passenger embarkations: Miami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral.

• Port embarkations in 2006: Miami (1,893,000); Port Canaveral (1,298,000); Port Everglades (1,289,000); Tampa (367,000); Jacksonville (130,000).

• Florida benefits as the primary home to cruise line headquarters for the top three cruise companies that own three-fourths of the North American industry cruise capacity: Carnival Corp. & PLC, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and NCL Corp.

Overall, these three companies employ more than 14,500 people representing 40 percent of the cruise industry employment in the U.S. Nationally, cruise line and passenger spending generated $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.

- South Florida Business Journal

Managing Director

Stephen A. Cunningham; MAI, CCIM

Managing Director

Email: scunningham@landqwestcommercial.com
Office Phone: 239-275-4922 ext. 225
Fax: 239-275-4699
Mobile Phone: 239-910-4085

 

Professional Affiliations/Community Activities: MAI Member of The Appraisal Institute, CCIM Designee of the CCIM Institute, Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Florida State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser #RZ300, Florida Licensed Broker.

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Comments(1)

Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary
LemonTree Realty - Orlando, FL
First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes

I think the ease of getting to one of the ports for most of the country is what makes it so attractive. Unless you live on the west coast it's a bear to get out that way.

Oct 17, 2008 12:30 AM