It has been another Banner year for Victoria's Cruise ship industry.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) says more than 550,000 passengers and 212,000 crew from 224 ships came through Ogden Point, Canada's busiest cruise ship port of call. The overall economic impact of those visits means more than a $100 million for Greater Victoria. Each cruise ship call brings in an average of $400,000 in direct spending to our region. The GVHA also points to even more visits and the tourism dollars associated with those visits in 2017. Ship calls are expected to rise from 224 to 240 according to Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. Robertson says these increased numbers reflect Victoria's popularity as a preferred destination.