Seattle expects 2009 will bring another record year with 208 vessel visits and more than 800,000 passengers
January 1, 1970
The Port of Seattle ended 2008 as the leader on the Alaska cruise run, posting its best year and narrowly topping Vancouver for the number of passengers that passed through its gateway, according to new port numbers.
Vancouver saw more cruise ships call on the city with 254 sailings over the season, but the 850,000 passengers those cruises carried came second to the 886,039 passengers that Seattle welcomed on 210 sailings.
"The growth we've seen in just 10 years is remarkable," Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani said in a news release.
Seattle has made a stronger play to develop its cruise business in recent years, and John Creighton, president of the Seattle Port Commission, said the sector has "quickly become an important source of jobs and economic growth" for the region.
Seattle estimated that its cruise business generates $274 million in annual business revenue, $8 million in taxes and 2,380 local jobs.
Source: Vancouver Sun