Los Angeles Port Visitors

[star gazer]

It's about time San Pedro did this!

 

 

San Pedro businesses launch efforts to woo visitors

 

By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer

Posted: 10/31/2010 10:04:35 PM PDT

Updated: 10/31/2010 10:12:30 PM PDT

 

 

October is the start of cruise ship season at the Port of Los Angeles. (Chuck Bennett)

Conducting an informal survey of cruise ship passengers last spring was an eye-opener for San Pedro business owner Katherine Gray.

 

"Most of them were not even aware they were in San Pedro or that there was shopping and dining close by," she said. "They just get on the buses."

 

Many visitors had never heard of San Pedro and were intent on seeing the better-known sites of Los Angeles.

 

Now, with San Pedro's peak winter cruise season about to launch, locals are making more aggressive efforts to capture tourist and crew member dollars.

 

The goal: To spread the word about the sights and things to do in the local port town.

 

It follows a pilot program initiated last spring in which businesses set up free-standing kiosks near the choreographed fountains at Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard.

 

Coming in November will be "Cruise Ambassador" informational kiosks inside the cruise ship terminal, a free weekend shuttle to take passengers and crews into downtown and Ports O' Call, and special discounts and promotions in downtown shops and restaurants.

 

"We're very hopeful we'll get some business" from the cruise ships, said Gray, who with her husband operates the Maritime Research Center at Sixth and Centre streets in downtown San Pedro.

 

Gray, through the newly formed San Pedro Convention and Visitors Bureau, is working with the Port of Los Angeles and city officials to establish a kiosk also by the Los Angeles

 

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Maritime Museum at Sixth Street and Harbor. The kiosk will provide information on where visitors can shop and dine in town.

The kiosks inside the cruise terminal, still awaiting approval after final details are worked out, would be part of the Cruise Ambassadors program sponsored by the Property Owners Business Improvement District.

 

That group has a $22,000 budget under a contract with the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce to operate the kiosks - offering directions, information on concierge services - and the free weekend shuttle service through May, said PBID Executive Director Stephen Robbins.

 

San Pedro expects 130 cruise ship calls from October through April, with some high-profile Cunard Line visits and cruises by the Queen Victoria and newly christened Queen Elizabeth 3 set for early next year.

 

"That's really big," Gray said. "The Cunard Line is the one to be on."

 

Also in late January, the Disney Wonder will arrive to begin a temporary home port stint with a series of cruises to the Mexican Riviera.

 

The local cruise industry hit its peak in 2005 when nearly 1.22 million passengers boarded cruises in San Pedro. While the numbers have leveled off since then, port officials anticipate that the cruise industry will grow more in future years.

 

The Golden Princess and Mariner of the Seas are both currently based at the Port of Los Angeles, offering cruises to Hawaii and Mexico. Two other cruise ships will rotate temporarily into the lineup for short-term Mexican Riviera cruises in the next two months.

 

San Pedro has long tried to capture tourist dollars from its home-based cruise ship industry without much success.

 

In years past, passengers reportedly have even been warned not to stray too far into the local town.

 

Eventually, Robbins said, programs will expand to include promotions of overnight stays in town.

 

Gray thinks the time is right to more aggressively woo tourists.

 

"I think the world is ready to see San Pedro," she said.

 

donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com

[Jeff in Torrance]

I agree. I've lived in the South Bay almost my entire life; and, have worked around the harbor area for more than 40 years. San Pedro is the best place for interesting things to see and do, and plenty of good restaurants at all price levels.

 

http://www.sanpedro.com/