The cruise industry’s economic output in Europe reached a new record of €40.2 billion in 2014, up 2.2% on the previous year, but representing a sharp reduction from the 4.0% growth rate in 2013 on 2012, figures releaed by CLIA Europe, the industry’s ceiling organisation showed.
The direct expenditures generated by the industry reached €16.6 billion, up from €16.2 billion in 2013. This represents an increase of 2.4%, again much less than the 4.5% increase in the 2013 figure over that of the previous year
Europe’s cruise industry has delivered a record boost to Europe’s economic recovery, but CLIA Chairman Pierfranceso Vago has warned that future growth requires action to unlock potential.
In 2014 the cruise industry also generated almost 10,000 new jobs across Europe, with 349,000 now employed in cruise and cruise related businesses, including over 82,000 manufacturing jobs. Wages and other benefits for European workers reached €10.75 billion.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s Chairman, said: “The cruise industry is making a vital contribution to Europe’s economic recovery. In 2014 the cruise industry injected nearly €40 billion into the European economy and sustained almost 350,000 European jobs, over 80,000 of which were in the manufacturing sector. These record results are something we’ve all worked hard for and we should celebrate and build on.”
But on a cautionary note he added, “While future growth can be achieved in Europe, it is far from guaranteed.” He continued: “Although a record 6.4 million European residents booked cruises in 2014 last year and European shipyards with record order books for new cruise ships remain the centre of the world’s cruise shipbuilding, there are some worrying trends. For example the numbers embarking on cruises from European ports is down by 3.6% to 5.85 million.”
He concluded, “This downward trend in Europe as a destination is a result of the serious hurdles to growth, which if ignored risk leaving that potential forever locked up and risk stalling the year on year economic growth we have all worked hard to deliver. Europe needs to tackle them by implementing environmental legislation in a harmonised way, streamlining visa procedures, investing in coastal infrastructure, and improving port facilities.”
