Cruise liners worth €46m each year to Munster

CRUISE liner business is worth an annual €46 million to the Munster region, but the Port of Cork is determined to up that figure with an innovative marketing campaign.

Port of Cork chairman, Dermot O’Mahoney said a UCC study showed a very healthy economic spin-off from the 52 cruise liners visiting the port this year, and the money was keeping an estimated 331 people in full-time jobs.

Mr O’Mahoney said the port was anxious to increase its cruise ship capacity and already 50 ships had confirmed visits for the 2009.