Researchers defend cruise study results
BY BECKY IANNOTTA
Citizen Staff
KEY
WEST — Researchers who conducted a study on the impacts of cruise ship
tourism defended findings that the average cruise ship passenger spends
$27 while in Key
West, but conceded
that some expenditures might not have been calculated.
"This is by far the most
thorough study that has been done in Key West," said James B. London, a
Clemson University professor who worked with Thomas J. Murray on the
study. "The numbers surprised us and we went back and looked at them
again several times."
The study found that
cruise ship passengers on average were in Key West three hours and spent
$27.41. More than 900 cruise ship passengers were surveyed.
But passengers responding
to the survey might not have included tickets for tours and attractions
purchased while on board the cruise ship, London said, in response to
questions from City Commissioner Ed Scales. Scales is general counsel to
Historic Tours of America, which operates the Conch Tour Train and
Trolleys and attractions like the Key West Aquarium, Truman's Little
White House and Flagler Station Overseas Railway Historium.
London
and Murray explained their methods for completing the 352-page Cruise
Ship Quality of Life Study and took questions from commissioners during
a workshop Tuesday night. The city hired Thomas J. Murray & Associates
to conduct the study as a result of legal action by civic group Last
Stand.
London
compared their findings with studies conducted in 1994 by Price
Waterhouse and in 1997 by Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, both of
which showed passengers spending less in Key West than other ports of
call.
The FCCA report said the
average passenger spent $41 in Key West — the least spent at 10 ports in
a survey that included
Aruba,
the Bahamas and
also St. Thomas, where the average passenger spent $225, London said.
Key West
business owner Tamara Camden disagreed with the low numbers and
criticized the consultants for comparing their survey with old data.
"I do my own surveys all
the time," said the owner of Key West Paradise, estimating most cruise
ship passengers are spending around $100 when attractions and tours are
factored in.
With the report complete,
the next step is for Thomas J. Murray & Associates to work with members
of the city staff to come up with ways to manage tourism from cruise
ships, Murray
said.
Much of the focus on the
study's findings has been on the money generated by cruise ships and
their passengers, but the study also investigated the physical and
environmental impacts of cruise ships.
"All of this ties into
quality of life, and the overall, 'how do you feel about cruise ships,'"
London
said.
Last week, Mayor Jimmy
Weekley questioned whether the study accomplished its mission, but said
Tuesday night that he's encouraged to hear the consultants will help
city officials formulate a plan to balance cruise ships and quality of
life for residents and visitors. |
