The cruise industry continues to play an important role in the recovery of the European economy from the recession, as 2013 was also a year of dynamic growth.

The economic data released today by CLIA Europe show that the output of the European cruise industry totaled 39.4 billion euros in 2013, an all-time record, from 37.9 billion in 2012. Cruise industry direct expenditures increased to 16.2 billion, from 15.5 billion in 2012.

In 2013 the economic impacts of the European cruise industry included 339,417 and 10.5 in employee compensation, a 4% increase compared with 2012.

Three factors are largely responsible for the annual growth of the cruise industry:
1) The increase in the market of European passengers,
2) A rapid increase in the number of cruise passengers embarking from European ports
and
3) The continued dominance of European shipyards worldwide in newbuilding construction

According to CLIA Europe Report on the industry’s Economic Contribution for 2014, it is estimated that in 2013, 6.4 European sourced passengers went on vacation on a cruise, an increase of 3.6% compared with 2012, which represents 30% of cruise passengers worldwide. Europe is also a major destination for cruise passengers and cruise ships from around the world, attracting major tourism investments and generating significant output.

The number of cruise passengers who embarked in 2013 from European ports reaches 6 million, a 5.2% increase compared with 2012. Approximately five million of them were Europeans, while the remaining one million came from third countries.

European shipyards which build almost all the world’s state of the art cruise liners around the world, recorded a 4.7% increase in revenue. In 2013, the cruise companies spent a total of 4.03 billion for the construction of new cruise ships and the maintenance and refurbishment of existing ships, the second annual increase following three consecutive years in which these expenditures had fallen.
Currently and for the first half of 2014 there are 24 new cruise ships on the order books of the European shipyards, with a combined value of 12.1 billion euros.

Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s chairman, said: “The positive results achieved this year reaffirm Europe’s position as a dynamic hub at the core of the global cruise industry. The cruise industry keeps generating great economic benefits for Europe during this crucial period of recovery, producing much-needed employment for European citizens as well as new business for its industries and revenue for its states.”

Greece maintained its ranking as the third top destination in Europe with 4.6 million passenger visits in 2013. Greek ports, including Santorini, Corfu and Mykonos are among the most popular ports of call in Europe, while Piraeus ranks fifth among European Home Ports, with 1.3 million passengers, representing almost 1% increase for 2012.