<p>When American tourist Helen Camper walked down the gang plank in Saint John Wednesday, she had no idea she was the millionth cruise ship passenger to arrive in the New Brunswick port city.</p><p>But Camper realized something was up as an entourage of city officials and well-wishers stepped forward to greet her, showering her with flowers and gifts and taking her on a tour of the community.</p><p>Although the resident of Annapolis, Md., had been to Canada many times, this was Camper's first visit to Saint John.</p><p>&quot;It's wonderful. I mean, the Canadian people have always been one of my favourites,&quot; she said. &quot;They're so friendly that I could been Canadian very easily if I wasn't American.&quot;</p><p>It has been 19 years since the first cruise ship visitor arrived in the city, said Betty MacMillan, manager of the Saint John Port Authority.</p><p>&quot;It was slow in the very beginning,&quot; she said, adding it has grown steadily ever since. About 180,000 passengers visit the city annually from the ships now.</p><p>&quot;It's bringing so much money to the economy of New Brunswick, it's well worth celebrating,&quot; MacMillan said.</p><p>Richard Frawley, who sells souvenirs, said the cruise ships are vital to his business.</p><p>&quot;It's the greatest thing that we ever had here, and we welcome them all, and we want them to come back and see us again,&quot; he said.</p><p>Cruise industry critic Ross Klein said the one-million passenger mark is a milestone worth marking, but he thinks the city could make more money from the ships if it granted the industry fewer concessions.</p>