| Saint John is getting aboard the booming business of cruise liners Chris Darby Saint John is getting aboard the booming business of cruise liners. Saint John has become one of the hot spots to visit in North America for the cruise industry, the rewards of which can be felt throughout our local businesses. The spin off from cruise ships brings in millions of dollars to our city as vacationing passengers are eager to spend in some form or another. Margaret Campbell, General Manager of Uptown Saint John Inc., estimates that cruise ships bring in an average expenditure per port of $100 -150 per passenger and crew member. Saint John has not become a cruising hot spot out of sheer luck. An extreme amount of effort has been put into enhancing the look of our city and catering to the needs of the passengers. Leading the way has been The Port of Saint John, Uptown Saint John Inc., and our Department of Tourism in City Hall. Streets lined with our national and provincial flags, bands playing tunes for the tourists at Loyalist Plaza, and tours provided on the back of old firetrucks are just a few examples of how our city has opened its doors to visitors. While our city has put much of effort into making Saint John a pleasantly memorable experience for vacationers it's also the little things that make a difference. Ladies disembarking the cruise ships are given roses, passengers are provided with city info, maps, and Passport Coupons. It's the overall effort and thought that is appreciated by the passengers, and the reason they keep coming back. The effort put forth by our city, businesses, and residents has not gone unnoticed or unrewarded as we have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of cruise traffic. Ten years ago we had one ship dock in our port, while today we expect between 75 and 80. The explanation behind the increase is simple, visiters love Saint John. Passengers of Cruise ships are expected to rate their destinations and an 80% approval rating is needed in order that a ship may return. Saint John continues to receive high marks year after year. And what does all this cruise traffic mean for local businesses? Simply put it means more money and greater recognition. The cruise ships act as a profit cycle for our community and economy. More business resulting from more tourists means more job openings and job enhancements. The passengers spend money allowing business owners to spend money for business purposes as well as pleasure. It is estimated that cruise passengers have contributed $119 million into the regional economy within the last decade and this year it is expected that the cruise industry will contribute approximately $17.5 million into the regional economy. In general all of Saint John benefits from the increased cruise traffic but in particular it is the shops and services, tour groups, taxis, and restaurants that benefit the most. For more information on cruise ship arrivals please check out the Saint John Port Authority's website at www.sjport.com. For more information on the City of Saint John check out Uptown Saint John Inc. website at www.uptownsj.nb.ca or the City's website at www.city.saint-john.nb.ca. Chris Darby is currently employed as the Project Coordinator with the Business Development Team at Enterprise Saint John. Having graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts certificate majoring in History and minoring in Religious Studies, he is currently working a seven-month term as Youth International Intern for Enterprise Saint John |