Cruise generates €10.4 billion to the UK economy

The cruise industry generated €10.4 billion to the UK economy in 2017 according to research conducted on behalf of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

The figure represents about 22 per cent of the industry’s ‘total output’ across Europe.

Employment and other direct expenditures made up €3.85 billion of the total, an increase of 18 per cent on 2015. The remaining €6.55 billion was indirect and induced expenditure.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “The figures released today bear testament to the cruise industry continuing to make significant contributions to the UK’s economy and the multi-billion valuation shows that cruise is a major player within the travel sector.

“More Brits are choosing a cruise holiday, more cruise passengers are embarking on a cruise from UK ports and the number of ports-of-call visitors continues to increase. This, along with more jobs being created through the cruise industry, translates into great economic benefits for the country.”

There were 37,720 roles generated by cruise-related expenditures; 17,183 Britons worked for cruise lines, either in administrative offices or as crew onboard ships. Other jobs included direct suppliers to the cruise lines and the employees of establishments that provide goods and services to cruise passengers. This paid €1.41billion in employee compensation.

The UK cruise industry sustains an estimated 44,690 indirect and induced jobs. The average job generated by the cruise industry paid slightly over €38,300 in employee compensation.

Harmer added: “The success of the global cruise industry is set to continue with 24 new ships scheduled to launch in 2019 and 107 new ships on order for delivery before 2027, worth close to $60 billion. As the cruise industry’s confidence in the UK increases, so does the number of ships built for the UK market.

“P&O Cruises’ Iona, the largest ever cruise ship built for the British market with capacity of over 5,200 passengers, will launch in 2020. And Cunard revealed last year that it is building what will be the largest cruise ship in its history, with the 3,000-passenger ship joining the iconic fleet in 2022.

“Furthermore, just this month Celebrity Cruises announced that its second Edge-class ship, Celebrity Apex, will be christened in Southampton in 2020 and sail a mini-season in the UK. The ship will join Celebrity Silhouette, marking the first time the line has operated two ships in the UK.”