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ICCL News Release Archives
CRUISE INDUSTRY SPENT $348 MILLION IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 2005
ARLINGTON, Va. (Aug. 31, 2006) -- The cruise industry spent $348 million in the state of Pennsylvania in 2005, an increase of 22 percent over the previous year, according to an annual economic impact study by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) commissioned by the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL). The spending supported over 4,800 jobs paying $211 million in wages and salaries.
Pennsylvania's major cruise port, the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal, is primarily a point of embarkation for seasonal Canada, New England and Bermuda cruises. Last year, 50,000 passengers embarked from Philadelphia -- a 72 percent increase over the previous year. The state also is a significant source market for cruise passengers and vendor goods and services.
"Our investment in expanding the cruise business in Philadelphia has paid remarkable dividends," said Kate McNamara, director of the Port of Philadelphia & Camden (DRPA office). "This study confirms the tangible economic benefits that we see every day at the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal - well-paying jobs, an enhanced tax base, and revenue to local businesses from the cruise lines, as well as cruise passengers who spend time and money in the region before and after their cruises."
In direct cruise line spending, Pennsylvania ranked 12th in the United States. Of that, transportation accounted for nearly $86.7 million, and $90 million was spent in the manufacturing sector. Cruise lines spent nearly $130,000 on government and professional services, which represented 37 percent of total statewide expenditures.
Nationwide, the North American cruise industry generated a total of $32.4 billion into the U.S. economy in 2005, an increase of nearly 8 percent over 2004. The BREA study also found that the cruise industry supported more than 330,000 U.S. jobs and paid $13.5 billion in wages and salaries in 2005.
The complete economic study can be found on the ICCL Web site at www.iccl.org.
NEWS DIRECTORS/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS NOTE: Broadcast-quality Beta-SP B-roll video is available upon request. Contact Buck Banks or Julie Ellis at 305-461-3300, buck@newmanpr.com or julie@newmanpr.com.
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