Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has published its annual European Economic Contribution Report, revealing that the cruise industry has continued to provide both jobs and positive economic contribution throughout Europe.
Figures released from the report show the cruise industry’s economic output in Europe reached €40.95 billion in 2015, an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year, as well as an all-time high. Meanwhile, direct expenditures generated by the industry reached €16.89 billion, which is up from €16.6 billion in 2014.
Additionally, in 2015 the cruise industry generated more than 10,000 new jobs across Europe, with 360,571 people now employed in cruise and cruise-related businesses. Wages and other benefits for European workers reached €11.05 billion.
The cruise industry continues to grow throughout other regions of the world, however, Europe remains a hub for cruising. According to CLIA, this trend is supported by the following three factors:
- Europe represents the world’s second biggest source passenger market, with CLIA reporting that 6.6 million Europeans went on a cruise holiday in 2015, 3 percent more than in 2014.
- Europe is the world’s second most popular cruise destination, second to the Caribbean. The study showed that 6.12 million passengers embarked on their cruises from European ports in 2015, 4.5 percent more than the year before.
- European shipyards continue to build large and innovative ships, increasing its spending on new builds and maintenance for the fourth year in a row. 48 cruise ships are currently on the order books of European shipyards until 2019, with a total value of more than €27 billion. In 2015, cruise lines spent €4.6 billion in European shipyards, representing a 1.2 percent increase in their revenue compared to 2014.
CLIA reports Europe’s economic contribution is a direct result of the growth the cruise industry saw in 2015 as it reached 23.2 million passengers on ocean cruises globally. Also, in 2014, cruise tourism created nearly $120 billion in global economic contributions. CLIA says the industry expects to see that number increase.
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