MONTRÉAL, Dec. 3, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The results are in, and Montréal's 2014 cruise season ended on a positive note. The season opened on May 17 and ended this past November 11, making it the longest cruise season to date for Montréal. In total, 71,044 passengers and crew members transited through the cruise terminal this year for an increase of 2% over the 69,966 passengers and crew members from the 2013 season. Two ships in particular stood out this season: the Aida Bella, the largest cruise ship to come to Montréal with more than 2,500 passengers and the six-star Europa, the most luxurious cruise ship to dock in the Port of Montréal.
Evolving numbers
Since the creation of the Cruise Committee in 2009, the number of passengers and ships that have transited through Montréal has been constantly evolving. The 2015 season looks particularly promising with a projected 92,000 passengers and crew members, as well as 73 ships that will anchor in Montréal, for an increase of close to 30%.
"The development work that the Cruise Committee has carried out is bearing fruit. The positive results of the end of the 2014 season and the predictions for 2015 indicate that we are on track to achieving the ambitious objectives we set for ourselves when we created the Committee," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. "Obviously, the cruise market will stay central to our strategic planning and, as a result, the Alexandra Pier renovation project is very important to us. The increase in this clientele supports our 2014-2018 strategic plan that the organization adopted before its members at the beginning of this year, and we will continue to work in this direction."
"The results of the 2014 season and the projections for next year indicate that Montréal has become a major draw not only in the international cruises market, but also for that of the Great Lakes. All ports of call upstream and downstream of Montréal will benefit from this, which generates important economic spin-offs for the city and for the entire province," added Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Port of Montréal.
Supported by Tourisme Québec, the Montréal Cruise Committee comprises the Montréal Port Authority and Tourisme Montréal, as well as six other associations and local organizations: Aéroports de Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal Corporation, the Casino de Montréal, the Société de développement commercial du Vieux-Montréal, the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal and the Ville de Montréal.
For more information on Montréal cruises, consult the Web site croisieresalamontreal.com.
Change in international cruise traffic in Montréal from 2009 to 2014 and forecast for 2015
| Year |
Number of passengers* |
Number of ships |
| 2009 |
47,534 |
43 |
| 2010 |
48,459 |
46 |
| 2011 |
47,514 |
40 |
| 2012 |
69,992 |
51 |
| 2013 |
69,966 |
47 |
| 2014 |
71,044 |
48 |
| 2015 forecast |
92,000 |
73 |
*international and domestic
About the Port of Montréal
Operated by the Montréal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montréal is a major diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods: containerized and non-containerized cargo, as well as liquid bulk and dry bulk goods. It is a leading container port served by the largest container shipping lines in the world. The Port of Montréal has its own rail network directly dockside. It is connected to the two national rail networks and a highway system. The Port operates a passenger terminal that welcomed 69,966 passengers and crew members in 2013. All other terminals are run by private stevedoring firms. For more information, go to www.port-montreal.com.
About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position the "Montréal" destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market. For more information, visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.
SOURCE: Comité croisières Montréal
Pascale Gagnon, Tourisme Montréal,514 346-3376,[email protected]
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