Prince Rupert’s tourism sector saw big benefits from the pent-up demand to travel, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, the port saw a 230 per cent increase in cruise ship passenger volumes, compared to 2019 – the last year cruise ships were operating in Canada. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Port of Prince Rupert reported that between May 17 and Oct. 3, 40,998 cruise ship passengers transited through the port – the busiest cruise season in a decade for Prince Rupert.
“The 2022 cruise season was the ninth largest in Prince Rupert’s history and we are greatly encouraged by the strong return of the cruise tourism sector,” Prince Rupert Port Authority president and CEO Shaun Stevenson said in the statement. “The season’s success is a reflection of our valuable partnerships with local businesses and organizations, especially the shore excursion operators, Tourism Prince Rupert and the volunteer Cruise Ambassadors, who work together with us to enrich the visitor experience.”
The return in cruise ship traffic translated into an estimated $3.5 million in direct consumer spending in Prince Rupert, including $650,000 spent with local shore excursion providers, according to the port authority.
“Going forward, Prince Rupert is uniquely positioned within the Alaska cruise theatre with immense potential for growth, particularly in regard to developing new opportunities for Indigenous-led tourism and eco-tourism in our region,” Stevenson added.
A big part of the success of this year’s cruise season was Prince Rupert’s inclusion on the itinerary for the Ruby Princess. The Princess Cruises ship, with a passenger capacity of more than 3,000, visited Prince Rupert 13 times during the 2022 cruise season. Ruby Princess is the cruise line’s first vessel to include Prince Rupert in its regular Alaska cruise itinerary.
"Tourism Prince Rupert was thrilled to see the return of cruise ships to Prince Rupert as it signified a strong rebound in the tourism sector after two very challenging seasons. Cruise provides a significant opportunity to our local tourism operators to access a unique pool of international clients, and for our local businesses to benefit from an economic influx into our community,” Tourism Prince Rupert executive director Ceilidh Marlow said. “We are encouraged by the success of this season and look forward to continuing to build the sector in the years to come."
Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce president Daphne Thomson said the successful season was the result of hard work and teamwork in the community between the Port of Prince Rupert, Tourism Prince Rupert and local businesses.
“The rising tide lifts all boats,” Thomson said. “Overcoming all the challenges the pandemic presented and still having an abundantly successful season is testimony that the Prince Rupert Business community is on the uptrend.”
