Cruise industry boosts Orkney economy says survey
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Cruise ships boost Orkney’s economy by more than £2.8 million a year and the county is Scotland’s most popular cruise destination.
This has been highlighted in a recent survey by GP Wilde International Ltd which also reports that there are between 60 and 70 cruise ship port calls annually into Orkney, delivering more than 30,000 passengers and 10,000 crew - 25% of Orkney’s total annual visitors.
Most of the cruise liners calling at Kirkwall were invited to take part in surveys of passengers and crew on board the cruise ships from June to August 2008.
Highlights of the survey were:
• 94% of total passenger numbers came ashore either to tour or shop.
• 85% of people who came ashore made at least one purchase.
• 61% of passengers took a guided tour.
• Courtesy and friendliness rated highly, but the chance of individual return visits rated low.
• Crew favoured purchases of food, beverage and clothing.
• Passengers favoured local crafts, jewellery and souvenirs.
• Average spend per passenger on shore was £49.
• Total passenger spend in the ‘high street’ was approximately £1 million.
• Total cruise ship spend including crew was £2.8 million.
Main receivers of income from cruise visits to Orkney were:
• historic sites;
• jewellery and arts and crafts outlets;
• gift shops;
• distilleries;
• coach companies;
• The Port Authority;
• shore excursion companies;
• tour guides;
• restaurants and bars;
• museums and galleries.
The survey was commissioned by the Orkney Islands Council’s Director of Harbours following a generic report by the same agency on European Cruise Ship ports and their economic comparative data. Captain Nigel Mills said: ”In commissioning the bespoke survey we wanted to see in greater detail a view of the economic benefit of cruise ships in Orkney as the generic report lacked some of the detail and analysis that I was hoping to see.”
Councillor Jim Foubister, Chairman of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said: ”For some time there has been a myth that cruise ship passengers simply arrive at our harbours, board tour buses and spend the whole day touring with out any real evidence of economic benefit to the County of Orkney generally.
“This survey destroys that myth, and when one considers passenger numbers have increased by 31% in the last 3 years, the future economic benefit is even greater in real terms.
“The development of the cruise ship business to Orkney is generally a Harbour Authority led initiative without any contribution of support funding being sourced from any related tourism or development organisation.
“By demonstrating through this comprehensive report the total economic benefit to Orkney of cruise ship port calls, it is hoped that local businesses, tourism groups, public agencies and individuals alike will take an introspective look at how they can contribute to and work alongside the industry to ensure that Orkney’s competitive advantage both financially and differentially is sustained.
“The forging of alliances with other Scottish Cruise Ship Ports through Cruise Scotland strengthens Scotland’s overall market position, and the future alliance of Cruise North Atlantic, where Orkney will market collaboratively with Newfoundland and St Johns, Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes, will once again capitalise on Orkneys unique geographical location for maritime business development.”
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