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Cruise industry set for further growth
Monday, 25 Nov, 2005
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ABTA Convention special report: The number of UK holidaymakers taking a cruise will increase by 21.5% to 1.25 million by 2006, according to the Passenger Shipping Association.
The PSA said the growth would be fuelled by the launch of eight new ships next year and a further seven in 2007. Among those companies increasing capacity are Travelscope, Fred Olsen, Saga, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Island Cruises and Thomson Cruises.
In 2005, Airtours withdrew from the cruise market, but other lines added capacity and the PSA estimated that the changes resulted in the number of cruise passengers increasing by 4.9% to 1.08 million from 1.03 million over 2004.
Meanwhile, there was a big increase in the number of ex-UK cruises in 2005, up to 400,000 from 306,000 in 2004. Ex-UK cruises now account for 37% of the market and, with regional ports expanding to accommodate larger ships, the PSA predicted the growth would continue in 2006.
PSA director Bill Gibbons said: “The future’s dazzling as the cruise industry goes from strength to strength. Predictions for 2006 paint an excellent picture for the industry.
“It doesn’t stop there as our bullish predictions show that 1.5 million of us could be cruising by 2008. that’s a surge of nearly 50% on 2004 figures. In terms of market penetration of the holiday industry we are still small and have a long way to go.”
Report by Jeremy Skidmore
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