| Minister Grant said he was extremely proud of the results, particularly since the 2017-2018 cruise year ended with St. Kitts receiving more than a million passengers for the first time in our history.
“To have the third highest average per passenger spend in the Caribbean is another major accomplishment for St. Kitts, which shows that not only is the destination in demand, but we also have the services and products to meet that demand,” Minister Grant said. “My team at the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority will continue to work hard to raise the standard through out the industry, to provide a world-class experience that will ensure our visitors all ‘follow their hearts’ back to our shores.”
The study measured direct spending impacts through passenger surveys and crew surveys; cruise line spending for services and provisions; port revenues; and employment generated by cruise ship calls. Measurement of economic impacts was calculated by collecting data from local government agencies, regional development agencies and international economic agencies to evaluate impacts on employment, wages, port fees and taxes.
The U.S. Virgin Islands had the highest average per passenger spend at US$165.42, followed by St. Maarten at US$142.23, and then St. Kitts & Nevis at US$135.94.
According to the study cruise tourism directly generated US$3.36 billion in total cruise tourism expenditures in the Caribbean — more than six percent higher than the record set by the previous study in 2015.
The study, which is engaged by FCCA in partnership with its destination partners every three years, was released at the 25thannual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The FCCA is the trade group representing the mutual interests of the cruise industry and destinations and stakeholders in the Caribbean and Latin America. |
