Annual Travel Statistics 2009.pdf - Jamaica Tourist Board

CRUISE PASSENGERSAccording to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, an estimated 13.5 millionpassengers cruised the seas in 2009, up 2.3% from the 13.2 million passengers in2008, with 10.2 million originating from North America. In 2009 the growth ofthe cruise industry continues as it enters an era distinguished by fourteen additionalinnovative, feature rich ships, international ports of call and convenient departuresfrom proximal embarkation cities. The current cruise ship order book extends from2009 through 2012 and includes 35 new builds, with 69 berths at a value of nearly$20 billion. 7At the World Travel Awards 2009, Jamaica won the award for both the World andCaribbean’s leading cruise destination and Ocho Rios won the Caribbean’s leadingcruise port. Jamaica for the first time since 2004 recorded less than a million cruisepassengers. This total of 922,349 cruise passengers who visited our shores was adecline over the 1,092,263 recorded for the corresponding period in 2008.Seasonally, cruise arrivals recorded a large decline of 21.6% in the Winter period(January to April) with 414,204 cruise passengers, down from the 528,259 for2008.With the exception of May and June, every month during the Summer period,cruise passenger arrivals recorded decreases ranging from a negative growth of25.5% in December to 5.9% negative growth in August. The period ended with a9.9% decrease in arrivals with 508,145 passengers, from the 564,004 in 2008.7 Source: Florida Caribbean Crusie Association – Cruise Industry Overview 2009Overview 2009xxii