In order to keep up to date with information on the cruise industry’s notable contribution to the economic development of the Port of Ensenada, the Baja California Tourism Secretariat, in collaboration with the National Port System Administration (ASIPONA), Ensenada Cruiseport Village (ECV) and the City of Ensenada, coordinate the services of the company Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA), recognized evaluator by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).
In this second study, various variables will be analyzed, such as the average spending of visitors and crew members, the goods, products and services acquired, the generation of federal, state and municipal jobs and income, the demographics of passengers, as well as the level of satisfaction of the experience at the destination.
In this regard, Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez, Secretary of Tourism of Baja California, stated that the cruise industry plays a vital role in the state, placing Ensenada as the main port of the Mexican Pacific in arrivals and passengers. This leadership attracts thousands of tourists each year and significantly stimulates the local economy. For this reason, it is essential to have updated data to provide a better experience to cruise passengers.
According to preliminary data from the study on the profile and impact of cruise visitors to Ensenada 2023-2024, the average expenditure per person is $72 US dollars, which represents a 31% increase in cruise passenger spending.
Since the study conducted in 2017-2018, the number of passengers in transit has increased by 37% from 659,300 to 902,892 at the time of the study. Total passenger spending went from $25.5 million to $46 million, an increase of 80%. It is estimated that the cruise industry generates 950 direct jobs and about 1,250 total jobs in Ensenada. This shows an increase compared to 2018, when 665 direct jobs and 1,016 total related jobs were registered at the port.
Ensenada receives the following cruise lines: Carnival Cruise, Princess, Disney, Oceania, Holland America, Royal Caribbean International. Norwegian Cruise, Regent Seven Seas and Viking, among others.
According to data from DATATUR, 2024 Ports in Mexico registered an increase during the month of May, reaching 170 arrivals with 677 thousand passengers in transit, that is, an increase of 4.9 and 10.7% compared to May 2023, reflected in the data from the Pacific and Gulf-Caribbean Ports, which registered increases in arrivals and passengers in transit for the same month.
Among the Pacific Ports, Ensenada stands out, as it concentrates 43% of the arrivals during this month, totaling 26 arrivals and 94 thousand passengers in transit.
On the other hand, according to data from the cruise terminal of the Port of Ensenada, during the two-month period from May to June 2024, the port received 49 cruise ship arrivals with a total of 189,664 passengers in transit. This represents an increase of 14% in arrivals and 36.2% in passengers compared to the same period in 2023, of which 80% of passengers on board decreased, according to information from the cruise lines. This is due to the increase in cruise passengers due to the start of the holiday period and the change in the itineraries of the shipping lines.
Source: uniradiobaja
