From new ships in the short term to long-play sustainable goals and initiatives, the pandemic-ravaged cruise industry is sailing into new territory as consumers and the industry slowly emerges from a global health crisis that has lasted for over two years.
Now, the Cruise Lines International Association has released its annual State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report, which features new 2020 economic impact data, including critical insights concerning the industry’s recovery from the pandemic, the value of cruise tourism, and the leadership and advancements in the areas of responsible tourism and maritime practices.
The 2022 Outlook Report also features reflections from cruise industry partners and community members around the world.
Insights 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.
• 5.8M passenger embarkations (-81%)
• 576K cruise-supported jobs (-51%)
• $64.4B 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 creates one full-time equivalent job
• Cruisers spend an average of US$750 per passenger in port cities over the course of a typical seven-day cruise
• 6 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 debut 16 new cruise ships in 2022, including five LNG-powered vessels and nine expedition ships. The class of 2022 will be 100% equipped with Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems.
“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 million guests onboard since resuming operations in July 2020,” says CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead. “While our focus on health and safety remains absolute, our industry is also leading the way in environmental sustainability and destination stewardship.
“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.”
Download the full report HERE.