CLIA Reports Cruising Generates Record $38 Billion in U.S.

The North American cruise industry’s economic impact in the United States grew by more than 6 percent in 2007, creating more than 350,000 jobs while generating $38 billion in total economic output, according to a national study released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

In addition to the national study, the association also released the latest passenger statistics for the first half of this year. From January to June, the cruise industry saw an overall 5.43 percent increase in passengers worldwide, with occupancies at almost 105 percent.

The newly released “2007 CLIA Economic Impact Study,” executed by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) in Exton, Pa., found that last year the North American cruise industry contributed $38 billion in gross economic output, a 6.4 percent increase over 2006, and created 354,700 American jobs.

Direct spending by the industry and its passengers in the U.S. exceeded $18 billion for a 5.9 percent increase over 2006. At the same time, the industry maintained a 105 percent average occupancy rate while increasing capacity, diversifying product and expanding operations worldwide.

The economic impact affected all 50 states. The top 10 states accounting for 78 percent of direct purchases and 82 percent of the total employment and income impacts are, in order, Florida, California, Alaska, New York, Texas, Hawaii, Georgia, Washington, Illinois and Colorado.

With an 8.8 percent increase in available bed days and an increase in average length of a cruise from 6.9 days to 7.2 days, the industry realized a 9.8 percent increase in actual passenger bed days and an industry-wide capacity utilization of 104.9 percent.

On a typical or average cruise ship call, CLIA estimates that a 2,500-passenger ship would generate an average of approximately $358,000 in passenger and crew onshore spending per call in the homeport city.