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Florida TaxWatch Economic Commentary
Florida is the World's Port of Call
The Economic Impact of the Cruise Industry in Florida
Florida welcomes more cruise passengers than any other state in the nation. Florida accounted for 62 percent of all U.S. cruise embarkations and welcomed an estimated 9.46 million cruise passengers and crew members in 2013.4 Many of these passengers are high-spenders; in fact, more than 60 percent of cruise travelers had a household income above $60,000,5 with daily expenditures averaging $264.58 per passenger in Miami alone, and studies have shown that cruise passengers tend to stay in Florida some days before and/or after their cruise.6
One industry report estimated that passengers and crew members helped generate 140,408 Florida jobs in 2013, and were responsible for approximately $7.33 billion in direct spending (a 4.8 percent increase from 2012), which represented 37 percent of all cruise industry direct expenditures generated in the U.S.7
| Direct Cruise Industry Expenditures in Top Five States (2013) 8 |
|
| STATE | Direct Cruise Industry Expenditures |
| Florida | $ 7.33 billion |
| California | $ 1.86 billion |
| Texas | $ 1.26 billion |
| New York | $ 1.26 billion |
| Alaska | $ 0.99 billion |
| Remaining 45 states | $ 7.39 billion |
| U.S. Total | $ 20.10 billion |
Businesses that benefit most from cruise activity in Florida include airlines, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, while other business segments were also found to reap benefits, including food processors, electrical and nonelectrical machinery manufacturers, and advertising agencies.9
There are also several cruise line corporate offices based in Florida, including Carnival Corporation and plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and Norwegian Cruise Line. In fact, more than half of U.S.-based cruise line employment is headquartered in Florida, employing more than 16,000 workers.10
Further, the cruise industry’s premier global event, Cruise Shipping Miami, brings thousands of cruise leaders to Florida from around the world annually.
The most recent conference took place in March 2015, attracting approximately 11,000 attendees,11 and more than 800 exhibitors from 127 countries.12 The conference will take place in Fort Lauderdale next year, due to renovations in the Miami Beach Convention Center.
4 Cruise Lines International Association. “The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2013.” September 2014.
5 Ibid.
6 Florida TaxWatch. “Investing in Tourism: Analyzing the Economic Impact of Expanding Florida Tourism.” January 2013.
7 See footnote 4
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Travel Pulse. “Cuba and China Dominate the Conversation at Cruise Shipping Miami.” March 17, 2015.
12 South Florida Business Journal. “5 things we learned at Cruise Shipping Miami 2015.” March 16, 2015.
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