Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report, released yesterday, outlined how the industry has continued to resume responsibly with proven protocols.
The report also emphasised the value of cruise tourism to local communities and national economies worldwide and charted the industry’s continued progress towards achieving carbon neutrality.
“The 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report provides an opportunity to reflect on how far our industry has come as CLIA ocean-going cruise lines have welcomed more than six mill guests on board since resuming operations in July, 2020. While our focus on health and safety remains absolute, our industry is also leading the way in environmental sustainability and destination stewardship,” claimed Kelly Craighead, CLIA President and CEO (pictured).
“Coastal and maritime tourism is an important economic driver, and we continue to work in partnership with cruise destinations so that communities thrive from responsible tourism. Our members are also investing in new technologies and new ships and pursuing the goal of net carbon neutral cruising by 2050,” she said.
The report also contained thoughts from cruise industry partners and community members, including from Robert Courts MP, UK Maritime Minister; Mato Franković Mayor of Dubrovnik; Laura McDonnell, a Juneau shop owner, Alaska; Alex Fraile, tour guide in Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Danny Genung, CEO, Harr Travel and Mandy Goddard, CLIA Elite Cruise Counsellor (ECC).
Highlights from the report include:
- Fleet of the Future. By 2027, the CLIA ocean-going cruise line member fleet will reflect significant advancements in the cruise industry’s pursuit of a cleaner, more efficient future.
- 26 LNG-powered cruise ships.
- 81% of global capacity fitted with advanced wastewater treatment systems.
- 174 cruise ships with shoreside power connectivity.
- 2020 Global Economic Impact. When compared to 2019, the 2020 economic data illustrates the pandemic’s far-reaching effects on the wider cruise community and underscores the importance of cruise tourism to economies around the world.
- 8 mill passenger embarkations (-81%).
- 576,000 cruise-supported jobs (-51%).
- $63.4 bill total economic contribution (-59%).
- Resumption Progress. Industry-leading protocols are facilitating the resumption of cruise tourism around the world, which is putting people back to work and reinvigorating local and national economies.
- More than 75% of ocean-going member capacity has returned to service
- Nearly 100% projected to be in operation by August 2022
- Value of Cruise Tourists. Cruise tourists, and the money they spend, create jobs and opportunities for local communities around the world.
- Every 24 cruisers create one full-time equivalent job.
- Cruisers spend an average of $750 per passenger in port cities over the course of a typical seven-day cruise.
- Six in 10 people who have taken a cruise say that they have returned to a destination that they first visited via cruise ship.
- Destination Stewardship. Continued collaboration with local communities in the destinations cruise ships visit remains a critical focus for the cruise industry, including in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Greek destinations of Corfu and Heraklion, and the City of Palma in the Balearic Islands.
- Class of 2022. CLIA ocean-going member cruise lines are projected to introduce 16 new cruise ships in 2022, including five LNG-powered vessels and nine expedition ships. They will be 100% equipped with advanced wastewater treatment systems.
