It is widely recognised that cruise is the fastest growth sector in the travel industry, including river cruising and embraces family, multi-generational and LGBTQ travel.
The cruise industry continues to spread tourists further afield and assist with accommodation and transportation in areas that are less accessible. Many destinations such as Sweden, the Dominican Republic and Samoa have adopted regulations or built new facilities to accommodate the growing number of passenger ship arrivals.
Cruise traffic remains important to Gibraltar. The destination is a leading Mediterranean port of call and a founding board member of the MedCruise association which works collaboratively with its 100 plus port members to ensure growth and development in the region. It actively encourages increasing port members? efficiency by exchanging information, best practices and statistics on cruise passenger traffic and new technologies on cruise port development.
The Swedish capital, Stockholm, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cruise tourists. During the summer season, a record number of passengers from international cruise ships visited the city: 619,000 in total, an increase of 20,000 from the previous summer, another record year. All in all, 268 international cruise ships visited Stockholm's ports between May and October, compared with 263 in 2017. Of those, 67 were 'turnaround' vessels starting or ending their journey in Stockholm, often meaning passengers spent an extra day or night in the city, therefore, spending more money in the capital's restaurants, cafes, shops, and tourist attractions.
The English are in third place in cruise visitor numbers behind the Americans and Germans. This increase in Stockholm?s tourism was not always good news though, with the Port Authority noting that in recent years 80% of cruise ships have left water waste in the city ports. Regulations for emissions in the Baltic Sea will be tightened from 2019-2021, requiring passenger ships to leave sewage on land or be equipped with approved treatment plants.
Visit Russia is promoting its visa-free tours to St Petersburg by incorporating a cruise element. These four-night tours start in Helsinki, Finland, and include two nights on board the luxury Princess Anastasia ferry, with two more at a modern, comfortable hotel in the centre of St Petersburg. Tours include an English speaking guide to help make the most of this fascinating city. This is a great way to discover the charms of this destination, along with the excitement of an unmissable cruise across the Gulf of Finland.
Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean achieved a historic milestone in 2018 by welcoming more than half a million visitors to the destination?s shores. Spread across niche markets, the combined cruise, yachting and stay-over arrivals for 2018 were 528,077 representing a 12.90% increase over 2017. Cruise arrivals saw double-digit growth with the sector growing by 14.49%. A strong performance was recorded in stay over arrivals with an increase of 9.97%, moving from 146,375 to 160,970 visitors with special mention given to the bumper Christmas season in which growth of 17% was recorded. The USA maintains the top spot in market share for arrivals to the destination at 46.93% followed by the UK.
The Dominican Republic?s Port Authority has announced that USD$125 million will be invested in building a new cruise port in Puerto Plata. The port will be able to handle 680,000 passengers per year starting in 2020, and five cruise lines are already planning on having cruise ships stop at the new port. The port will be able to handle three cruise ships at one time, including the largest cruise ships in the world, the Oasis class ships from Royal Caribbean. The cruise market has grown from 384,878 passengers per annum in 2007 to 1,107,966 in 2017.
In November and December 2018, Samoa welcomed seven cruise ships including the Emerald Princess on her maiden voyage. This was the first large Princess Vessel to call into Samoa for two years following the Port of Apia?s extension. Samoa is expecting nine cruise ships to visit its ports in 2019.
These are just a few examples of the impact the industry is having on ANTOR?s member destinations.
For more information and tourist board contact details, see www.antor.com.
