Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the primary representative of the global cruising sector, unveiled its yearly State of the Cruise Industry report alongside a novel publication titled the Oceans of Opportunities workforce skills report.
This year’s industry overview highlights the release of passenger figures for 2023, which hit a milestone of 31.7 million, marking a 7% increase over the figures from 2019. Additionally, the report underscores the sustained interest in cruising, with a noted cruising intention rate of 82%. Projections indicate a 10% rise in cruise capacity from 2024 to 2028, illustrating the industry’s steadfast commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most resilient sectors of tourism— rebounding faster than international tourist arrivals—and a strong contributor to local and national economies. In 2022, cruise tourism cruise generated 90% of economic impact compared to 2019, despite passenger volumes that year at 70% of 2019 levels. Over the past 50 years, cruise tourism has demonstrated its leadership in managed tourism and is an industry that has plenty of room for continued responsible growth given cruise travel comprises just 2% of overall travel and tourism,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. “The industry also continues to lead the way in environmental sustainability and destination stewardship, with cruise lines making advancements in technology, infrastructure and operations, and in green skills training for crew.”
Key insights from the 2024 State of the Industry report by CLIA reveal:
A Flourishing Cruise Sector:
In 2023, cruise tourism soared to 107% of the levels seen in 2019, with 31.7 million passengers, nearly two million more than in 2019.
The year 2024 is anticipated to welcome 35.7 million cruise passengers.
The desire to cruise has risen by 6% compared to 2019, with Millennials showing the most significant enthusiasm for future cruising.
The global cruise capacity is expected to increase from 677K lower berths in 2024 to 745K lower berths by 2028.
Yearly, cruise fleets become more eco-efficient as investments are made in propulsion technologies adaptable to future alternative fuels and a variety of technologies and innovations are adopted to enhance sustainability efforts.
Economic Impact of Cruising in 2022: The cruise sector contributed:
$138 billion to the worldwide economy,
1.2 million jobs, a 4% increase from 2019,
$43 billion in wages.
63% of previous cruise passengers have revisited a cruise destination for an extended stay, thereby broadening the economic benefits.
The economic impact for 2023 is expected to surpass that of 2022, owing to a 50% surge in passenger numbers over the previous year.
Emerging Cruise Trends:
The demographic of first-time cruisers is expanding – 27% of cruisers in the last two years were new to cruising, a 12% increase from the previous year.
Cruises are the preferred choice for multi-generational trips, with over 30% of cruising families including at least two generations, and 28% comprising three to five generations.
Expedition and exploration cruising is the fastest-growing segment, witnessing a 71% uptick in passengers from 2019 to 2023.
The demand for accessible tour excursions is growing, with 45% of cruisers booking accessible tours on their most recent voyage.
73% of cruisers acknowledge the significant impact of travel advisors on their cruising decisions.
Key Points from the Oceans of Opportunities Workforce Report:
“Cruise is the best vacation value there is, with incredible guest experiences delivered by a talented and dedicated multinational workforce of nearly 300,000 seafarers. To highlight the tremendous employment opportunities that cruise tourism supports around the world, CLIA has published a new skills and workforce publication, Oceans of Opportunity. With at least 56 new ships coming online between 2024 and 2028, there are vast opportunities for careers in cruise, which boasts an impressive employee retention rate upwards of 80%,” said Craighead.
In 2024, the cruise industry will employ a diverse international workforce of nearly 300,000 seafarers from over 150 countries, along with thousands of onshore staff.
The cruise sector employs 94% of female seafarers.
Approximately 40% of top leadership positions in cruise companies are occupied by women.
A critical area of current and future workforce development is the acquisition of green skills.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
