Global cruise tourism impact surpasses pre-COVID performance

THE CRUISE industry made a significant recovery, exceeding its pre-pandemic performance in 2023 with a record-breaking global economic impact of US$168.6 billion. This new figure represents a nine per cent increase over the 2019 benchmark year, it was revealed during the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Annual Cruise Forward Conference in Miami in November.

According to the CLIA’s latest Global Economic Impact Study, the cruise sector’s contribution to worldwide gross domestic product reached US$85.6 billion, with growth outpacing that of the global economy.

In addition to generating significant economic output, the cruise industry’s expansion is directly tied to job creation. The study revealed that the cruise sector supported 1.6 million jobs worldwide in 2023, a substantial increase of 37 per cent from 2019. These jobs span varied industries, with 77 per cent of them being land-based roles in sectors such as food and beverage, transportation, travel agencies, and manufacturing. The cruise sector also paid US$56.9 billion in wages globally, an increase of 13 per cent from four years ago.

“The cruise industry is an important contributor to the global economy, generating billions of dollars in economic output and supporting millions of jobs,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. “As demand for cruising continues to grow, our member cruise lines are committed to preserving the integrity, cultural heritage and beauty of treasured destinations so they can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”

In total, 31.7 million passengers embarked on cruises in 2023, a seven per cent increase over the 29.7 million passengers who sailed in 2019. This growth in passenger numbers signals the ongoing popularity of cruise vacations, particularly as people seek to return to travel in greater numbers.

The benefits of cruise tourism extend far beyond the cruise lines themselves, with CLIA research showing that 60 per cent of cruise passengers return to destinations they first visited on a cruise, often spending longer periods and injecting additional funds into local businesses, Craighead said.

Additionally, as cruise continues to grow, the industry’s efforts to sustainable tourism and destination stewardship have also increased. CLIA outlined a set of Guiding Principles for Responsible Tourism, focused on the Sustainable Development Goals, to prioritise environmental stewardship and partnership among cruise lines, ports, and local communities.

With 2023 marking a record-breaking year, CLIA is optimistic about the future. The organisation has forecast that the number of global cruise passengers will rise to 35.7 million in 2024, surpassing even the pre-pandemic highs.

CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice for the sector as the leading authority, and represents 15,000 of the world’s largest travel agencies, over 54,000 travel agents, and approximately 95 per cent of ocean-going cruise capacity.