| As per the world cruise industry review for cruise | | | | which, conjointly with European fleets, led to a |
| operators, 2009 was a challenging year. However, the | | | | commendable increase in the number of passengers - |
| industry worked well despite the economic slowdown | | | | 4.7 million - joining their cruises in 2008 from a |
| bringing in business, keeping costs low, and finding new | | | | European port, a 68% growth on 2005. The European |
| market areas. The number of ships and passengers | | | | cruise industry has added 14.2bn in direct |
| grew despite the customers being affected with the | | | | expenditure, with cruise lines expending 5.1bn on |
| economic downturn. | | | | services, supplies and equipment. |
| U.S accounts for roughly three quarters of the global | | | | The projection is that the overall cruise passengers |
| shipping industry. Here, the cruise industry more than | | | | are to rise by 6.4% to 14.3 million in 2010. Nevertheless, |
| held its own during the worst of the downturn. 11% of | | | | passenger growth hinges on locations other than the |
| travel agents polled by CLIA expect this year to be | | | | North America or Canada should be threefold to what |
| better for the global cruise business, as cruising | | | | CLIA expects in North America, at 14.3% against 7%. |
| continues to rank number one on many counts, with | | | | International passengers will include one third of the |
| the value for money. | | | | global cruise business, from one quarter last year, and |
| World cruise industry review indicates that for 2010 | | | | less than one tenth in 2000. |
| there are confirming signs of increase in demand | | | | Considering the present scenario, it is clear that |
| although it is too early to say if we are returning to | | | | Europe's entire potential has not been attained: it has a |
| total wellness. While consumers are starting to show | | | | population of around 500 million likened with 300 million |
| more assurance, they are still holding up their decision | | | | in the US, and most Europeans have more holiday time |
| to book. | | | | than their US holidayers. There are also fantabulous |
| The cruise sector is a significant part of the European | | | | and easily reachable cruise destinations. |
| marine industry and has made an important contribution | | | | According to world cruise industry review Asia and |
| to the European economy: 21.7 million passengers | | | | Latin America are the future markets which offer |
| called in the European ports during 2008, with the | | | | excellent long-term business possibilities and it's |
| industry bringing in 311,512 jobs, a 66% increase | | | | impressive to witness the rising economies and |
| compared with 2005. The entire value of goods and | | | | individual wealth being generated there. As investments |
| services generated has increased by an astounding | | | | in infrastructure are brought in, these markets will |
| 69% in the last three years to more than 32bn. | | | | become important world cruise destinations in the |
| Europe has been drawing in cruise ships from the U.S., | | | | times to come. |