The cruise outbound market increased by 200,000 passengers. Spain saw growth with a total of 466,000 Spanish passengers, representing a 3% increase compared to the previous year.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that 6.6 million Europeans took a cruise in 2015, a new record that represents an increase of 200,000 passengers over the previous year and a growth of 3%.
Since 2008, the European cruise market has experienced extraordinary growth of 49%, demonstrating both the industry's resilience to the economic crisis and the added value of cruise vacations. These figures represent an average annual growth rate of 6% over the past seven years. In fact, according to industry research, between 2004 and 2014, cruise vacations globally grew faster in popularity than other types of vacations, with an estimated difference of 20%.
This week, during the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, Kerry Anastassiadis, CEO of Celestyal Cruises and member of the CLIA Europe Executive Committee, spoke about the results obtained.
“The published figures confirm that Europe’s cruise industry is in good shape,” said Anastassiadis. “Cruising is a superb holiday choice, and more and more people are realizing the great value and wonderful experiences that cruise holidays offer. This is helping us to be perceived as one of the most attractive holiday choices and as a young industry that represents a small part of all holidays chosen. Our opportunities for growth in Europe and other parts of the world are virtually limitless.”.
The Spanish market is recovering. After several years of declining numbers of Spanish passengers, 2015 was a banner year for the cruise sector in Spain. A total of 466,000 Spaniards chose a cruise last year for their holidays, representing significant growth of approximately 3% compared to the previous year. This key improvement is partly due to increased consumer spending in the Spanish economy, which is experiencing higher incomes and a more optimistic outlook for the coming years. As a result, Spain is once again growing and has positioned itself as the fifth largest source market in Europe, alongside Germany, Great Britain and Ireland, Italy, and France.
The 2015 season also marked a turning point for last-minute bookings, with stronger reservation campaigns than in previous years. The Mediterranean remains the top destination for the Spanish market, accounting for nearly 75% of Spanish passengers. Furthermore, significant growth was observed in cruises to Northern Europe and the Caribbean, suggesting increased customer interest in exploring new destinations and discovering more high-quality vacation options due to the improved economic climate.
“These figures undoubtedly reflect the current strength of the cruise industry in Spain, which is growing again and continues to position itself as a key market for the sector,” highlighted Alfredo Serrano, National Director of CLIA Spain. “We are confident that, thanks to the economic recovery and the increased use of our country's port infrastructure, the cruise industry will continue to grow and attract new passengers.” “The outlook for this year is very positive, and at CLIA Spain, we will continue working with all our members to ensure this upward trend continues and that our country remains a major source and destination market for cruise passengers, contributing significantly to the industry and the Spanish and European economies.”.
