Posted on: Friday, January 7, 2005
Cruises' economic role in Hawai'i grows
Advertiser Staff
The state's cruise industry contributed $293.7 million to Hawai'i's gross state product in 2003 and $286.3 million in 2002, according to a state report released yesterday.
Advertiser library photo "We are pleased by the growing contribution from the cruise industry to our state's economy," said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert. "Looking forward, we can expect to see continued increases in the number of cruise ships to our islands, which will help diversify our tourism base and provide yet another reason for visitors to come to Hawai'i."
Only foreign-flagged ships, including those based in Hawai'i, visited Hawai'i during the two years covered in the study. NCL America's Pride of Aloha, which flies the U.S. flag, began sailing the islands last July. NCL's U.S.-flagged Pride of America and Pride of Hawai'i are scheduled to be delivered in June and in summer 2006, respectively.
The state study concluded that Hawai'i's cruise industry generated $108.1 million and $110.4 million in earnings, and created 4,547 jobs and 4,582 jobs in 2002 and 2003, respectively. About $37.4 million in state and county taxes were generated in 2002 and $38.2 million in 2003.
Details of the report are at www2.hawaii.gov/dbedt/latest.
When also considering the increased spending by households with cruise industry employees, the industry's overall contribution increased to $390.5 million for 2003 and $381.1 million for 2002, according to the 2002 and 2003 Hawaii Cruise Impact Study by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The Pride of Aloha — arriving last July to begin cruises here — is not included in the state study, which covered the years 2002 and 2003.
