![]() ![]() “It is about the contribution make to the tourism industry here in Boston, in Massachusetts and throughout New England, so that is why we’re highly focused on trying to get this thing going again right now.” “This isn’t just about the restoration of our business,” said Wieland. In the years leading up to the pandemic, Massachusetts invested in major upgrades to Boston’s cruise infrastructure with the goal of driving up tourism, and several hotels were constructed near Black Falcon Pier, in part to serve people staying before or after a voyage. And I know that our a lot of our businesses have missed having those ships here over the past few years.” “So cruises are a huge benefit to our entire economy. “When Boston is a stop, it’s a huge benefit to all of our attractions because we’ve got people coming in that have either pre-booked excursions or are just disembarking and spending the day in Boston,” said Sheridan. And with industries such as international travel and conventions still hindered by the pandemic, Boston’s tourism sector is relying on the return of cruises to help fill restaurants and tour buses, said Martha Sheridan, president of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. But I think it would be interesting if came in fully loaded a year right after the pandemic sees this industry restart.”Īs a vital and growing arm of Boston’s pre-pandemic tourism industry, cruises are an “economic engine” for its recovery, said Gleason, who added that Flynn Cruiseport generates $135.5 million in annual economic output. “We’ll see based on the ship schedule, if that’s what the numbers could lead to. “I think it’d be really optimistic to think we’re going to hit 400,000 passengers this year,” said Wieland at the board meeting. But some, like Massport CEO Lisa Wieland, expressed skepticism that the post-pandemic rebound would be quite so quick. Thousands more passengers - 411,000, to be exact - are expected in 2023. Massport forecasts as many as 395,000 passengers could sail into Boston this cruise season, approaching pre-pandemic numbers of around 402,000.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |