The global cruise industry contributed $666 million to Georgia's economy in 2014, accounting for 3.2 percent of the cruise industry's spending nationwide, according to a new study from Cruise Lines International Association, the largest cruise industry trade association and the leading authority of the global cruise community.  

CLIA's 2014 Economic Impact Analysis, an independent study commissioned by CLIA and conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors, shows that the cruise industry's direct expenditures in Georgia generated total economic impacts of 12,442 jobs and $665 million in wages and salaries.

"The cruise industry is a critical contributor to the U.S. economy and we see evidence of the industry's positive effect spreading into every state, including Georgia," said Cindy D'Aoust, CLIA's acting CEO. "Despite the fact that Georgia has no cruise port, it is a major source market for cruise passengers, resulting in direct spending with travel agencies, airlines, hotels and other businesses."

2014 CLIA Economic Impact Analysis

Additional findings from CLIA's study:

• Cruise passengers traveling worldwide from Georgia totaled 245,000, a 2.5 percent increase from 2013

• Tourism-related businesses received approximately $196 million, or 29 percent of the cruise industry's $666 million in direct spending in Georgia.

• Another $201 million was spent with businesses in support industries, such as food processors, computer and electronic equipment manufacturers, advertising agencies and insurance companies.

Top Ten States
According to CLIA's study, the top ten states benefitting economically from the cruise industry are:

1. Florida                                     

2. California                                  

3. Texas                                                  

4. New York                                             

5. Alaska

6. Washington

7. Georgia

8. Illinois

9. Massachusetts

10. New Jersey

Global Cruise Industry's Contributions to the U.S. Economy
The growing economic impact from the cruise industry in Georgia reflects the industry's increasing contribution to the U.S. economy. In 2014, cruise lines, their passengers and crew spent a record $21 billion in the U.S. in 2014, up 16 percent since 2010 and representing a new peak in U.S. cruise industry expenditures. Total contributions of the global cruise industry to the U.S. economy reached a record $46.09 billion in 2014, up 4.5 percent from the previous year. This includes generating 373,738 U.S. jobs paying more than $19 billion in wages and salaries.

Infographics on the Cruise Industry Economic Impact Study are available at http://cruising.org/docs/default-source/research/2015_clia_economic-impact-infographic.pdf.  

Cruise Industry Celebrates National Plan A Cruise Month
CLIA's report coincides with National Plan a Cruise Month, an initiative where the cruise industry comes together to help consumers across the country discover cruising by featuring unprecedented cruise vacation offers - from chances to win dream cruise vacations each day of the month, and discovering new cruises and destinations - to receiving the best cruise deals and promotions.

To celebrate, the cruise industry has launched #CruiseSmile, a chance to win one of 31 cruise vacations from 23 different cruise lines, awarded each day in October. For information on how to enter, visit http://cruisesmile.org/.