Falmouth pier set to bring in millions
Published:Monday | February 14, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer
The soon-to-be completed Falmouth cruise-ship pier in Trelawny could potentially generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the country, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said.
"It is going to cause an increase in some 15 per cent in cruise arrival for the year which would mean a little over one million of cruise visitors this year, which could earn us somewhere in the region of US$100 million by way of direct returns," Bartlett told The Gleaner recently.
He said, however, the overall returns from the activity would be far greater when other funds are included.
"In terms of the extended spend, it (earnings) could be up to US$250 million because the shopping experience, plus the numerous attractions that they will be exposed to will force a further addition to the normal spend that comes from a cruise visitor," he added.
Bartlett added that the cruise-ship activity would not only be a boost for the economy in Falmouth, but would also assist the development of the surrounding areas.
Significant cruise destination
"Falmouth development is not going to be to the expense of anywhere else. (The pier) is going to augment to a large extent the development of the north coast and it will be able to reposition Jamaica as a significant cruise destination," Bartlett stressed.
Addressing a press conference at his New Kingston offices recently, Bartlett said there has been an improvement in the number of cruise arrivals.
He said figures indicated that there were 96,323 cruise visitors in January, representing a 10.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Bartlett added that the pier is about 90 per cent complete and is expected to be ready by March 13 when the Oasis of Seas is expected to arrive.
The Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, can carry more than 8,000 passengers and crew.