CLIA UK & Ireland has launched its UK River Cruise 2017 review, which shows another year of record growth.
Last year, passenger numbers rose by 21% and total bed nights were up by 24%, compared to 2016.
In 2017, the UK river cruise market reached 210,400 passengers, against 174,400 in 2016, demonstrating that the market continues to outperform many other sectors of the travel industry.
European river cruises, which account for almost 90% of bookings, were the driving force behind this exceptional growth, specifically cruises on the Douro, Russian waterways, Rhine and Danube.
Cruises in central and western Europe, accounted for almost two-thirds (62%) of all river cruise bookings, with the Rhine and Danube leading the way.
However, it was eastern and southern Europen which saw the most growth last year, predominantly on Russian waterways and on the Douro.
Looking outside Europe, three rivers accounted for the bulk of passengers in 2017 last year; the Mekong, Nile and Irrawaddy, with the Ganges and Brahmaputra also performing well.
Andy Harmer, senior vice-president membership and CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: "With continued investment and innovation in this sector, and with new events and initiatives to engage the travel agent community, the growth in river cruising continues to be an important part of the overall cruise industry."
