CLIA Europe chairman Manfredi Lefebvre singled out Germany as being on the verge of 'an
unprecedented cruise tourism boom over the next decade.'
It is the second largest source market in Europe, with 1.5m passengers in 2012 representing 22.5% of the continent's total.
Germany is still the second
largest European market in terms of total direct spending, with almost €1.5bn
being spent was in German shipyards on newbuilds and repairs in 2012. The
German market still leads in terms of passengers taking river cruises, with
figures of 436,600 for 2012.
CLIA president and ceo Christine Duffy defined the cruise industry in
Following the launch of CLIA Europe in April, national councils will be formed in
'We appear to be out of the tough times of recession with public debt looking like it is under control and inflation holding steady at 1.6%,' said Pierfrancesco Vago, ceo of MSC Cruises. Spain and Italy, which recorded minus growth last year, 'are coming back and there has been steady growth in many of the smaller European source markets, such as Turkey, Russia and East European countries.'
Although the pattern of growth across Europe is uneven, cruising's low penetration levels offer the 'biggest opportunity for growth,' said Dominic Paul, billed as vp and group md Europe, Middle East and Africa for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Azamara and md RCL Cruises Ltd.
Paul was very confident about the future saying, 'We are far from saturated in
Paul continued the positive outlook and said, 'Five out of the top 10 tourist outbound markets are in
Richard Vogel, ceo of TUI Cruises, spoke of the changing face of the German market, comparing figures in 1996 where 20,000 Germans cruised, two thirds of which on international brands; to 2012 with 1.5m Germans cruising with national brands accounting for two-thirds of the market.
'I believe
The speeches were done at the opening session of Seatrade Europe that is taking place in