Study: Cruise ships promote return visits to Maine
Photo / Laurie Schreiber
A new study shows that a substantial number of first-time cruise ship visitors to Maine are likely to return. Here orange tenders transport passengers between their cruise ship and Bar Harbor.
A new study shows that a substantial number of first-time cruise ship visitors to Maine plan to return.
An estimated 400,000 cruise ship passengers came to Maine during the 2018 cruise season, according to a statewide study of cruise ship passenger and crew spending released Wednesday.
More than half of those visitors said they were visiting Maine for the first time and one-third said they were likely to return.
"The cruise ship industry is an important part of the Maine tourism industry and an economic driver for our state,” Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism, said in the release. “This new research shows us that it's also a significant source of return visits."
The study was conducted by Portland-based travel and tourism research firm DPA for the tourism office in partnership with CruiseMaine.
"We know if someone comes to Maine once, they are very likely to come back. These are exactly the kind of first-time visitors we want coming to our state," Lyons said.
Eight out of 10 visitors said they were highly satisfied with their time on shore, and an equal proportion said they are highly likely to recommend a trip to Maine to others. One-quarter of visitors who come to the state via cruise ships are from international destinations.
"The vast majority of those surveyed said Maine offers natural beauty, an unspoiled environment, high-quality service, and a warm welcome,” Sarah Flink, executive director of CruiseMaine, said in the release. “Furthermore, the study reinforces that cruise passengers are doing business in our shops, restaurants and attractions."
Revenue generator
The study also showed the cruise ship visitation in 2018 generated $29 million in direct spending.
When indirect spending is factored in, cruise ship passengers generated more than $33 million in visitor spending. The spending supported nearly 400 jobs and provided $1.7 million in Maine tax revenue, according to the study.
Cruise ship tourism also generates economic impact for the state in several ways not examined in the cruise visitor survey. For example, cruise lines purchased 10 million pounds of Maine lobster in 2018, and paid more than $2 million in fees to the municipalities where they docked or anchored.
Maine’s 2019 cruise season looks to surpass last year in terms of scheduled port calls and passenger numbers, with at least 10 vessels making maiden voyages here. Some 430 port calls are expected statewide this year, compared to 400 last year. That translates into 450,000 passenger days this year compared to 400,000 in 2018.
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