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Visitors to Massachusetts Spent $17.5 Billion in 2012; Cruiseport Boston Will Exceed 350,000 Passengers

BOSTON The Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism are gearing up for a banner summer tourism season that is expected to pump billions of dollars into the local economy as millions of visitors, fly, drive and sail into Massachusetts.

June, July and August are always the three busiest months at Boston Logan International Airport and this year, seat capacity is six percent higher during than the summer of 2012. Last year, a record 29.3 million passengers arrived or departed Logan.

New nonstop flights to Boston this year include Copa Air flying from Panama City and connecting Latin America and Massachusetts starting July 10; Southwest Airlines started service from Houston Hobby on June 2; PenAir begins service from Islip, NY on July 25, and JetBlue began service from Charleston, SC on Feb. 28. In addition, airlines are ramping up summer frequencies and adding seasonal service from destinations like Los Angeles, Paris, Philadelphia, and the Azores.

August is historically our busiest month at Logan, followed by July and June; and with the increase in flights and seat capacity this summer, we are well-positioned to break last years passenger record, said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. Records are nice, but the numbers tell an important story about the strength of tourism to the states economic health and the significance of Massports facilities in propelling the economy.

The tourism industry is one the states top employers and opening new nonstop connections from around the globe to Boston benefits the state.

Last year, 21 million people visited the Commonwealth, spending more than $17 billion and supporting 126,000 jobs for Massachusetts residents. said MOTT Executive Director Betsy Wall. Early indications are 2013 will surpass last years numbers.

At Logan, passenger numbers through May are up over the first five months of 2012. During the peak travel days this summer, more than 100,000 passengers a day are expected to pass through the four terminals, up from a yearly average of 80,000. Most of the increase in summer capacity is coming from domestic markets and international travel is flat. Markets with seat gains include Philadelphia, Seattle, Kansas City and San Diego. Markets with fewer seats include Atlantic City, New Yorks LaGuardia Airport, Chicago OHare, and London.

The airport will be crowded so we suggest passengers arrive two hours before a domestic departure and three hours prior to international departures, said Ed Freni, Massports Director of Aviation. If you are picking up an arriving passenger, consider using the cell phone waiting lot, where drivers can park up to 30 minutes and enjoy free Wifi.

In addition to Logan, Cruiseport Boston is in full summer mode with weekly sailings to Bermuda and Canada/New England cruises, which draw passengers to Boston from New York and Pennsylvania; a transatlantic crossing on Holland Americas Veendam will bring visitors to town.

Cruiseport Boston is the front door to Boston for the thousands of passengers on port of call cruise ships that stop for a day, like Cunards Queen Mary 2 which will be here July 4. New this year, Massport is offering travelers free wireless Internet access at the cruise terminal. Almost 20 cruise lines call on Cruiseport Boston each season. The full cruise schedule can be viewed at massport.com

Cruise industry spending generated nearly 7.500 jobs and $438 million in income to Massachusetts workers, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association, said Deborah Hadden, Massports Acting Port Director. We expect to have more than 350,000 passengers this year, for the second consecutive year.

Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 75 domestic and 33 international destinations and in 2012 handled 29.3 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Associationpublic transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport.Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities. For more information please visit massport.com.

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