| 2011 European cruise results

CRUISING in Europe continues to be a
popular pastime with the latest figures
released by the European Cruise Council (ECC)
showing a 9.3% increase in passenger numbers
in 2010.
“It is encouraging and indeed remarkable
that in these highly uncertain times the cruise
industry continues to grow steadily and make a
real social and economic contribution to
Europe’s economy,” said Manfredi Lefebvre
D’Ovidio, ECC chairman.
Indeed, according to the report, the number
of passengers cruising in Europe has more than
doubled in the past decade, with 5.5 million
passengers cruising the region last year alone
(making Europe the second largest cruise
market worldwide, after North America).
In terms of economic impact, the report
found that in 2010 the industry generated
€35.2 billion (around A$45.6b) for Europe’s
economies, whilst the industry also generated
4% more jobs last year bringing the total to
307,526 for 2010.
The report did however note an 8.5% dip in
the economic impact of cruising on cruise
vessel building in 2010, however according to
the ECC, the level of orders has begun to
accelerate, “so this trend could start to
stabilise within a couple of years”.