CLIA Revises Cruise Passenger Estimates for 2016

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has increased its passenger expectations, now predicting 24.2 million travelers will set sail on ocean cruises around the world in 2016.

The industry reported a total of 23.2 million passengers on ocean cruises globally in 2015, up from a projection of 23 million and a four percent increase over 2014. 

Much of the industry’s growth can be attributed to emerging regions of the world. In 2015, Asia experienced the most growth year over year in ocean cruise passengers with a 24 percent increase from 2014 to 2015. This resulted in more than two million ocean cruise passengers in 2015. 

While Asia continues to see record growth in the cruise industry, Australia is not far behind. The region, which includes Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, experienced a 14 percent increase in ocean cruise passengers from 2014 to 2015. Last year, more than 1.1 million ocean cruise travelers originated in Australia.

Cruise travel currently represents two percent of the total leisure travel market. However, says CLIA, it has the highest satisfaction rates among global travellers and is growing in popularity. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, in the decade between 2004 and 2014, global cruise vacations have grown faster in popularity than land-based vacations by a 20 percent margin.