20 million choose to cruise

The number of holidaymakers around the world who took a cruise last year topped 20 million for the first time. The total grew by 10 per cent, or almost two million, on 2010’s figures.
The main markets are North America, with 11.5 million, and Britain, with 1.7 million. The fastest growth has occurred in Australia – up 30 per cent to more than 500,000, with growth expected to top a million by 2020..
 
The statistics, released at the beginning of the UK’s annual National Cruise Week, were compiled from industry bodies including the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the European Cruise Council, and the UK’s Passenger Shipping Association (PSA).
 
Christine Duffy, CLIA President and CEO, said: “We are delighted to see 10 per cent annual global growth in cruise passengers last year, with milestones being broken all over the world as growth continues. This is the first time that European figures have passed six million and the first time Australian cruise passengers have topped half a million.
 
“The latest statistics clearly show that the cruise industry has proved resilient during difficult economic conditions and these results are a testament to the industry’s ongoing innovation and investment. As we continually improve operations, an d add new and exciting innovations and itineraries, we’re confident our sector has huge potential for continued growth on a global basis.”
 
William Gibbons, Director of the PSA, said: ” British ocean cruise passengers exceeded 1.7 million for the first time in 2011 and are currently the second largest source of cruise passengers in the world. We’re looking forward to that growth continuing as new ships come on stream to satisfy demand.”
 
European cruise numbers last year were up nine per cent on the 5.56 million Europeans who took a cruise in 2010.
 
Countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France have seen cruise passengers increase by an average of seven per cent to 15 per cent in the past five years.