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.
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.
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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