CRUISE LINERS calling to Cork harbour look set to inject almost €50 million into the Munster economy this year, the Port of Cork claimed yesterday.
Port of Cork chairman, Dermot O'Mahoney, said some 51 cruise liners will have visited Cork by the end of the cruise season on October 24th, bringing some 70,000 visitors and over 30,000 crew to the Munster area.
This marks a significant increase over 2007 when some 41 ships visited Cork harbour, bringing some 50,000 visitors to the region and contributing about €30 million to the region's economy.
Although the economic benefit from this year's cruise trade can't be calculated until after the season's end, present indications point to "a significant boost to the economy of the Munster region to the tune of €46 million", said Mr O'Mahoney.
He was speaking at a lunch for Cork tourism and other interests on board the world's largest cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean Cruise liner Independence of the Seas, which was paying her third visit to Cobh this summer.
The Port of Cork will host the world's most famous cruise liner, the QE2, on October 1st/2nd on her farewell voyage before departing for Dubai, where she will become a floating hotel.
