Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
Europe has had a difficult year, as terrorist attacks have taken a toll on travel in certain regions, but the cruise industry continues to positively affect the continent in many ways as outlined by the Cruise Lines International Association.
According to CLIA's annual European Economic Contribution Report, cruising has contributed to economic stimulation and job creation, amounting to €40.95 billion in 2015, a 2 percent increase over the previous year and a record high. Plus, direct expenditures accounted for €16.89 billion over €16.6 billion in 2014. As far as 2015 jobs are concerned, the industry provided 10,000 new openings, 360,571 in total, and €11.05 billion in wages and benefits.
What's more, Europe remains the cruise shipbuilding capital of the world as spending increases for the fourth consecutive year. Through 2019, 48 vessels are on order that are collectively worth €27 billion, and in 2015 alone, €4.6 billion was paid by cruise lines, 1.2 percent more than in 2014. Even more detailed statistics can be found in the infographic below and at the link here.
"We remain confident that the cruise industry's growth in Europe will be sustained for years to come," said Raphael von Heereman, CLIA Europe's Secretary General. "CLIA continues to work with policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders on a variety of topics. For example, we continue to promote the revision of the EU Visa Code to encourage the arrival of more foreign tourists in Europe, and support improved and expanded port infrastructure throughout Europe."
Globally, the numbers are even higher as 23.2 million passengers took an ocean cruise in 2015, and almost $120 billion in economic stimulation was generated in 2014. Tallies are, of course, expected to continue to rise as overall market penetration is still relatively low with great potential accordingly.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
