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ABTA survey reveals pent up demand for cruising
Four in 10 people haven’t been on a cruise but would like to try one, according to latest ABTA research, revealing huge pent up demand for cruising.
One in five have been on a cruise and would like to go again but 5% said they definitely didn’t want to take another.
ABTA’s latest research ahead of National Cruise Week, starting on Saturday, also found that a third of the population has no interest in cruising. A further 5% said they were ‘unsure’.
In the last 12 months, cruising accounted for 10% of all holidays sold in the UK, up from 7% in 2014.
This steady growth looks set to continue with 13% of people stating that they are planning a cruise holiday in the next 12 months, said ABTA.
Cruise holidays were particularly popular with holidaymakers aged 65+ with 13% of those who took a holiday in the last 12 months taking a cruise.
They were followed by people aged 25-34, 12% of holidaymakers in this age group took a cruise in the last year.
Perhaps surprisingly, 25-34 year olds are also the most interested in cruising with 48% stating that they were interested in trying a cruise. Additionally, 15% of young families with children under five who took a holiday in the last 12 months took a cruise.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "In recent years the cruise market has expanded outside the traditional Mediterranean and Caribbean destinations and now offers an incredible variety of voyages, including Scandinavian cruises, Arctic cruises and European river cruises. The industry has also responded to customer demand for ships of varying size and scale catering for every budget and taste."
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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