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Millbay Docks in Plymouth could soon be welcoming cruise liners following a feasibility study into the possibility carried out by a consortium that includes the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Associated British Ports (ABP). With just one cruise liner carrying 3,000 passengers worth around £250,000 for the local economy, this move could bring approximately £15 million to the area of Plymouth.
The study indicated that with a good, well-organised programme of local excursions and effective marketing, constructing a berth able to bring in cruise liners could benefit the economy significantly. Although plans for such a berth have been on the table for quite a while, it hadn’t, until now, been seriously considered. David Parlby from the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce commented: “We felt it important, particularly with the advent in 2020 of the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower, to try and establish the economic feasibility of the proposal.”
Chair of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Chris Arscott, added: “I am very excited by the findings of the study. A cruise liner berth plays very well into the regeneration vision that the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership is developing for the waterfront. Having a cruise liner berth in Millbay would make a huge difference to the level of tourism and leisure activity in the city and help to put Plymouth’s offer where it belongs – on the international stage.”
The Consortium’s next step is to investigate funding possibilities for the scheme, and developing a detailed project specification.