Ms. Michele Paige – President of F.C.C.A. during the 12th annual Aruba Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting

The Aruba Chamber of Commerce and Industry held recently a gala fundraising business meeting where Ms. Michele Paige – President of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association was the Key Note Speaker presenting the topic of “Cruise Passengers equal Profits.”

During her eloquent speech, Ms. Paige shared the history of the F.C.C.A., the association’s work in partnership with the destinations in the region and most importantly how the destination would benefit from the cruise passengers.

FCCA represents 13 member lines with more than 100 vessels sailing in Florida, Caribbean and Mexican waters, carrying over 95% of the cruise visitors to the ports of their interest.

The FCCA is the vehicle for bringing all partners who will benefit from a closer working relationship with the cruise industry, which is a very young industry.

Overall, since 1980 the industry has had a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% per year. This consumer response results from the fact that cruising delivers a high quality and very satisfying vacation experience; in addition it is diversified with literally a cruise vacation for everyone.

The FCCA conducted research that has guided the addition of new destinations, new ship design concepts, new on-board and shore excursion activities, new theme cruises, and new cruise lengths; al to reflect the changing vacation patterns of today’s market. The potential for the cruise industry is huge. To date only approximately 16% of the US population has ever cruised.

A survey conducted by MACRO – AHF, highlights that nearly 80% of cruise passengers purchased items during a port of call.

Over half of all shoppers (55.5%) planned “NONE” of their purchases beforehand. Evidently influenced by marketing and other experiences during their vacation, these buyers represent an average spending in port stores of 52% higher than those who planned most of their purchases.

The vast majority of cruise passengers (65.9%) believe that the products in general are less expensive in the Caribbean than the U.S.-even more (74.1%) believe that prices are better in destination stores than ship stores.

In store service remains a vital part of port sales. Those who felt the service was better (25%) spend on average 23% more, and nearly 1 in 4 passenger, 22%, said that they would have purchases more if the service provided was better. In a similar vein 53.5% would have purchased more liquor, if it were easier to get back to the ship.

Cruise passengers are extremely active consumers whose spending habits on luxury goods set them well above the average American.

The amount of money that the cruise passenger spends at any given destination is dependent upon several factors, like being wanted, courtesy and respect, cleanliness, the ability to understand and be understood, the reputation of the destination for selection, quality and value of merchandise, the transportation provided, warm, friendly and informative service, the availability to buy unique, attractive, quality items, bargains offer a great value and you add to the passenger’s “brag factor” and he will sell your shop, the ambiance of the shopping experience, are the hours of shopping conducive to when cruise passengers are import?, taking advantage of the ship being import by keeping the stores open late creating night time activities, memorable meals and drinks, attractions and sightseeing, sports and recreation: Happy visitors spend more than unhappy ones.

The latest fall 2004 CLIA cruise industry overview reports that 85% of cruise passengers agree that cruising is an important way to try out a vacation spot to return to for a resort vacation and nearly 50% fully expect to return to the destinations visited for a land based vacation. Cruisers are vacationers that cruise as part of their vacation mix. They average over three (3.3) trips each year, taking only one cruise in a three year period, thereby taking nine other types of vacations in the three-year period.

The good news is that Aruba has more than doubled its cruise passenger numbers in 10 years – going from 2571000 cruise passengers in 1994 to around 600,000 in 2004 and the numbers are up 6.3% from 2003

Ms. Paige concludes her speech with four key points: 1. The cruise industry and its passengers of today represent a very major source of dollar contribution to the destinations we serve. 2. That the inevitable continued growth of the cruise industry is going to result in even greater economic benefits to the destinations we call at. 3. That FCCA, as directed by its member lines, has the knowledge and capability to work with cruise committed destinations to develop ways to improve all levels of economic contributions from cruise business. 4. Cruise Passengers = Profits, because there are only two reasons to do anything: A. Something very good will happen if you do it or B. something very bad will happen if you don’t!

The head table of Ms. paige during the moment that Ms. Paige is delivering her eloquent speech. His Excellency Governor of Aruba Mr. F.J. Refunjol, President of the Parliament of Aruba, Mr. M.F. Werleman and wife, Hon .Minister fo Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. N.J.J. Swaen, Bac., Mr. Francis Lejuez - Vice President Aruba Chamber of Commerce & Industry and wife, Mr. Edwin Roos - President of Aruba Chamber of Commerce & Industry & wife.

Ms. Michele Paige - President of F.C.C.A. during the presentation