Cruise ships returning to business as usual, says minister
A better-than-expected cruise ship season has resulted in about $4 million of tax revenue so far, the Minister of Transport said.
Lawrence Scott told the House of Assembly that more than 45,000 cruise passengers have come to Bermuda this season.
He said: “Since April 4, Bermuda has received 27 cruise ship calls to date, with ships having visited all three ports.
“There have been approximately 45,600 passengers visiting our shores thus far, and ships have been sailing at occupancy levels between 60 per cent and 75 per cent.”
Mr Scott added: “The estimated revenue generated so far for government taxes is $4 million, visitor fee is $729,600 and passenger spending is $10.2 million.
“It has been wonderful to have our regular cruise ship partners back after a two-year hiatus.”
The minister highlighted that “business is getting back to normal, and streets are bustling again”.
He said: “Bermuda has had a ship in port almost every day since early April and this week on Monday Bermuda saw three ships in port with one at anchor at Dockyard. This will happen again on June 2.”
Mr Scott told the House that he went to the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference in Miami last month.
Other Bermuda delegates included Stacey Evans, a cruise line relations contact at the transport ministry, Charles Jeffers II, the Bermuda Tourism Authority chief executive officer, and Tashae Thompson the BTA director of experience.
Mr Scott said: “The future of cruises for Bermuda is bright.
“Given what we learned at Seatrade – that four to seven-day itineraries are considered the industry sweet spot, and that fuel is an important driver for North American home ports – cruise partners will be looking for destinations as close to the eastern seaboard as possible.
“Bermuda, as port of call, must prepare to be able to service the projected growth out of homeports such as Boston and Baltimore.
“This will also equate to Bermuda becoming less of a seasonal port of call and more of a year-round destination given that if we expand our season by one month, we will achieve year-round port of call status.”
He told MPs that the Ministry of Transport was reviewing a proposed memorandum of understanding with a contract cruise line partner “to clearly define a direct path” for Bermudian adults who are interested in training and employment opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Mr Scott added: “I would not be surprised if the contract cruise partner is on the island prior to the end of our 2022 cruise ship season to host job fair activity.”
* To read the minister’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.
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