Cruise ship passengers spend about $50 each whil ein P.E.I., the survey found. (CBC)

A new survey out this week suggests cruise ship passengers landing in Charlottetown spent $3 million in P.E.I. last year, contradicting an earlier report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The earlier report suggested passenger weren't spending much at ports of call, but another survey by P.E.I.'s Tourism Research Centre suggests they are spending on average of $50 each.

Retail shops are the biggest recipients of the passengers' cash, taking in about 40 per cent of the $3 million.

"We see a huge increase on those days [that ships arrive]," said Nick Campbell, manager of the Anne of Green Gables Store.

"Enough so, that we bring in extra staff to cover the days when we know they'll be a cruise ship in."

Bus tours are the next biggest recipients of cruise ship revenue, accounting for 30 per cent of the total. Not surprisingly, restaurants are not able to take good advantage of the passengers, who are generally well fed on board. On average, they spend just $6 each on food and drink while in P.E.I.

Lee Gauthier of Tourism Charlottetown says cruise ships are a growth opportunity for P.E.I. tourism. (CBC)

The higher than expected spending is good news to Lee Gauthier at Tourism Charlottetown, the group responsible for attracting cruise ships. The city is bringing in a record 41 cruise ships this year.

"It's a growing economic benefit to Charlottetown," said Gauthier.

"Cruise ships, if we look back 10 years ago, really weren't coming in the numbers they are now."

Some passengers said in the survey there is room for improvements. They complained the cost of goods and services in Charlottetown was too high compared to other ports and that the city should provide better transportation to get passengers away from the downtown.

Still, most called P.E.I. one of the better destinations on their trip, and nearly half of them said they might come back again. That's further good news, because the survey also showed many cruise ship passengers are first time visitors.