One of Vancouver’s many sources of revenue is it’s port, where not only large amounts of capital are shipped and transferred daily but additionally where up to 200 cruise liners end or begin their travels.

Cruises affect local economies greatly, it acts as a portable luxury hotel transporting hundreds of tourists from one location to another. At each respective dock, these tourists disembark to take part in guided tours provided by domestic and international organisations or take their chances exploring the surrounding area by themselves, either way, these tourists will use local infrastructure and services, dine at local restaurants and shop in domestic stores, this not only provides a stable source of revenue for local companies but also means that taxes will be paid by these tourists which will net the government revenue as well.

Unlike most ports, where cruises stop for a average of 8 hours to re-stock and re-fuel, and tourists don’t spend much time in the port’s respective country, Vancouver is what is referred to as a home port, cruise ships often end or start their voyages in Vancouver, meaning tourists will spend more time in Vancouver than in any other city they dock at, therefore it can also be said that more money is spent in Vancouver.

The city’s cruise industry is facing competitive threats from other nearby ports however, as, albeit the recent 49$ million dollar investment into its’ port, then number of ships docking at the city has been gradually declining, and increasing in the nearby ports in Seattle and Victoria.

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/life/travel/2010/04/13/cost-cruising