Tall Ships 2012 expected to have ‘enormous’ economic impact
Tall ships are slated to fill the sails of the local Nova Scotian economy next summer.
The event will be similar in size to the 2009 tall ships event that generated about $32.8 million in direct and indirect spending around the province, said Colin MacLean, president of the Waterfront Development Corp.
An overview provided by the provincial Crown agency indicates the tall ships visit to Halifax just over two years ago generated about $14.5 million in household income including wages and salaries, benefits and tips. That included $8.5 million in direct wages and salaries and $5.9 million in indirect and induced wages and salaries.
“It was a pretty conservative estimate, which nevertheless really demonstrated that it’s got enormous economic impact across the province,” MacLean said Tuesday.
“That was the amount of money that was generated, not just by the ships but by the businesses that thrived in and around them, whether it’s retail, tourist or otherwise.”
About 40 vessels of varying sizes are expected to call in Halifax between July 18 and 23.
Some will head to various ports around the province the following week. Those include, tentatively, Lunenburg, Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg, Sydney, Pictou and Pugwash.
Other ports of call during the event include Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., Greenport, N.Y., and Newport, R.I.
“This one is working with Tall Ships America,” MacLean said. “So it’s a race that will be coming up the coast.”
Theodore Too, the life-size tugboat replica owned by Murphy’s Cable Wharf and made famous by the children’s television series Theodore Tugboat, is expected to head south this winter as an ambassador for the event that aims to promote tourism.
“While down there, they’re going to be going to a very large boat show and a winter parade, both to promote tall ships but also the idea of touring and visiting Nova Scotia,” MacLean said.
“One of the things that we’re trying to do is focus some attention on using it as a backdrop and a showcase for some of the best things that are available in Nova Scotia,” MacLean said. “So we’ve got some partners beginning to come on board that we hope to announce in the next little while that will be providing some tremendous animation and experiences for people in and around the shores of Halifax and the other ports in Nova Scotia.”
The 2012 tall ships event will commemorate the War of 1812.
