AUSTRALIA’S cruise market will outdo pre-pandemic levels over the coming season, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Chair Ben Angell shared at last week’s Australian Cruise Association Conference. This will see our local market mirror the rest of the world, despite the relatively delayed restart of cruise in Australia, with this...
AUSTRALIA’S cruise market will outdo pre-pandemic levels over the coming season, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Chair Ben Angell shared at last week’s Australian Cruise Association Conference.
This will see our local market mirror the rest of the world, despite the relatively delayed restart of cruise in Australia, with this year set to see global passenger volumes rise beyond the levels achieved pre-COVID.
CLIA is expecting Australia to receive 70 cruise ships during the coming season, which is well above the 60 which were scheduled for 2019-20.
Ships are scheduled to call 1,848 port days in Australia, which represents more than 2.5 million passengers, Angell added, assuming vessels are full.
CLIA is anticipating 31.5 million passengers carried worldwide this year, which will be a record, and will far eclipse last year’s number of 20 million.
The Association is forecasting annual passenger volumes will reach almost 40 million worldwide by 2027, with total capacity on a similar trajectory.
“The order book through to 2028 shows around 60 new CLIA ships representing more than US$40 billion worth of investment, which is clearly a big show of confidence in cruise,” Angell enthused.
“Undoubtedly there is an enormous amount of work needed to achieve further growth and to fill these new ships, including the task of attracting an estimated four million new cruise guests over the next two years.
“We’re supported by a strong network of trade partners, a strong community of ports and destinations, and continuing and strengthening positive sentiment amongst cruisers.”
Angell revealed this intention to cruise in key markets worldwide is higher than it was pre-pandemic, with research showing 85% of those who have cruised in the past likely to do so again – 6% higher than at the end of 2019.
Two-thirds of those who’ve never cruised before say they’re open to do so, with some of the strongest sentiment found among millennials. MS
