Global demand for cruise holidays reached 22.04 million passengers in 2014, up 68 percent from 13.1 million passengers in 2004, according to a new study from cruise industry body, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Since 2013, demand for cruise holidays grew 3.4 percent, from 21.3 million passengers.
CLIA’s 2014 Economic Impact Analysis, an independent study commissioned by CLIA and conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), shows the cruise industry’s contribution to the global economy reached $119.9 billion in 2014, up from $117 billion the previous year. This includes supporting 939,232 full-time equivalent employees earning $39.3 billion in income. Direct expenditures generated by cruise lines, passengers and crews totalled $55.8 billion.
“The cruise industry is truly a global and dynamic one,” said Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA 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.”
According to CLIA’s study, the global cruise industry’s 22 million passengers are sourced from around the world. North America accounted for 55 per cent or 12.2 million cruise passengers. Europe accounted for 29 percent or 6.4 million passengers. Other regions of the world, including Australia, China, Singapore, Japan and South America, accounted for the remaining 16 per cent or 3.5 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.”
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