Cozumel and Mexico Position Themselves for Additional $70 Million in Cruise Tourism Economic Impact
 

Pembroke Pines, FL (September 10, 2015) - Looking to build onto past growth, Cozumel and Mexico will position themselves to further increase their cruise tourism business by hosting the country's second FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show from October 5-9.
 
"From triple-digit increases in passenger arrivals to developing new cruise destinations, hosts of the FCCA Conference & Trade Show have directly benefited from spotlighting their products to some of the industry's most influential decision makers," told Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and the FCCA. "We are excited to bring this event back to Cozumel, Mexico to again actualize the event's benefits while displaying the destination's progress since the last event and continued commitment to cruise tourism."
 
The destination knows the significance of hosting this event because of their progress after their first Conference in 2007. In 2006 Cozumel received 2,028,002 passenger arrivals, and Mexico received 5,551,176, according to data from port authorities. Just one year after hosting the event, Cozumel experienced a 21 percent increase, with 2,450,381 passenger arrivals from FCCA Member Lines alone, and Mexico saw 10 percent growth, with over 6.1 million Member Line passenger arrivals. Plus Cozumel continued rising, seeing over 3.3 million passenger arrivals from FCCA Member Lines last year and garnering the second-most passenger arrivals in the region.
 
These numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire country's economy, to the tune of $565.4 million in passenger, crew and cruise line spending, in addition to 15,990 jobs and $93.5 million in wages generated through cruise tourism, per the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2007 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism in Mexico.
 
The 2009 BREA study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, found that the average expenditure per passenger in Cozumel was $104.58 (a 17 percent increase compared to 2007), which directly benefited numerous industries through purchases of goods and services, including food and beverage, shore excursions, ground transportation and retail purchases.
 
The same study showed that Cozumel benefited from crewmembers spending $25.6 million for similar products and services; cruise lines paying $24.6 million; and cruise tourism generating 7,089 jobs with wages of $41.4 million-a 28 percent increase compared to 2007.
 
By these numbers, if Cozumel's 2014 FCCA Member Line passenger arrivals grew the same 20 percent experienced after hosting their first FCCA Conference & Trade Show, it would represent $69.4 million more in passenger spending alone, along with the coinciding increases of employment and crew and cruise line spending, as well as indirect contributions that include supplies purchased by tour operators, restaurants and port authorities.  
 
Even a single additional cruise vessel would carry a large economic wake for Cozumel and the country. BREA's figures show that just one average cruise ship-130,000 GRT, carrying 3,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers-in Cozumel generated $313,740 in passenger spending and $31,740 in crew spending, along with roughly $29,000 in port fees, totaling $374,480 in direct economic contribution, not including employment and indirect contributions.
 
Considering this potential economic impact, it becomes easy to understand why Cozumel and Mexico again decided to invest in the country's economy by hosting the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.
 
To learn more about and/or register for the FCCA Conference & Trade Show, please visit www.regonline.com/fccacozumel.