<div id="subtitle">New study estimates that cruise industry will pump $37 million into SC economy this year</div><div><p>A study released Monday shows South Carolina's expanding cruise industry will mean $37 million to the state's economy this year.</p><p>The study, commissioned by researchers at the College of Charleston for the South Carolina StatePorts Authority, also found that the industry supports 400 jobs in the Charleston area with $16.2 million in salaries and wages. The industry also generates $3.5 million in tax revenue.</p><p>The study was compiled by John Crotts, a professor of hospitality and tourism management as well as College of Charleston economist Frank Hefner.</p><p>This year, 53 cruises will embark from Charleston while 16 other cruises will make ports calls. Beginning this spring, Carnival Cruise Lines will permanently base its 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in Charleston.</p><p>"Waterborne commerce and tourism have been two pillars of Charleston's growth over many years," Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome said.</p><p>Crotts, who said if anything, the figures are a bit conservative on the effect of the cruise business, said the study didn't analyze how much cruise business Charleston could absorb.</p><p>He said cruise lines are beginning to homeport smaller cruise ships, generally in the 2,000-passenger class, up and down the East Coast.</p><p>"They are looking at the market and what the market will generate," he said, adding that Charleston now generally serves travelers from the Carolinas. Travelers from other nearby states, such as Georgia, generally leave from other ports, Crotts said.</p><p>"My gut feeling on this, and history seems to bear it out, is the Port of Charleston will not support more than one cruise ship of that class," Crotts said.</p><p>Newsome said he expects the most Charleston could handle is two cruise calls a week.</p><p>"The number I have used consistently is two a week ... which would be logical based on the size of the market."</p><p>The State Ports Authority is working with the city of Charleston on redeveloping its existing cruise terminal and 55-acre tract around the terminal and Union Pier on the Charleston Cooper River waterfront.</p><p>Officials say a modern terminal is needed to handle the growing cruise business. A conceptual plan for the new cruise terminal is to be unveiled next week.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68269883&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

Copyright 2010  <a href="http://www.ap.org">AP Features</a></div></div>