Global cruise demand hits 22 million

The global demand for cruise reached 22.04 million passengers in 2014, a rise of 3.4 per cent on 2013 when demand was 21.3 million passengers.

The figure represents a 68 per cent increase from 2004, when global demand was estimated to be 13.1 million passengers, according to Cruise Lines International Association (Clia)

Clia’s latest Economic Impact Analysis put cruise’s global economic contribution at $117 billion, which includes supporting close to one million full time employees. They collectively earned $39.3 billion. In total, cruise lines, passengers and crews spent $55.8 billion.

“The cruise industry is truly a global and dynamic one,” said Cindy D’Aoust, Clia’s acting CEO. “We’ve enjoyed progressive growth over the last 30 years, driven initially by demand from North America, which expanded to Europe, Australia and now Asia. As a result, the cruise industry impacts the global economy generating jobs, income and business growth in all regions of the world.”

The North American market accounted for more than half of the global figure (55 per cent) at 12.2 million passengers. Europe represented 12.2 million passengers. Germany was the second largest market in the world (1.77 million passengers) with the UK coming in at third with 1.61 million passengers.

“The potential for new cruise passenger growth is huge,” said D’Aoust. “Apart from North America and Europe, other regions of the world account for nearly 85 per cent of the world’s population, yet represent only 16 per cent of cruisers. That reflects a tremendous opportunity for the cruise industry.”

“Asia is a prime example of the cruise industry’s growth opportunity,” said D’Aoust. “Our industry is bringing more cruise ship visits to Asia and the volume of cruise passengers sourced from Asia for cruise tourism worldwide nearly doubled since 2012.”