Network Cruise Baltic has used the platform of Cruise Shipping Miami this week to announce the positive results of its Market Review 2013. The survey, conducted amongst all the Cruise Baltic destinations (27) - including data from additional destinations St Petersburg, Kiel and Riga – reports on 2012 results and those anticipated in 2013.
The figures presented in the report for 2012 are based on a collection of data from amongst ports in the Baltic Sea region as of February 2013. A summary includes:
•the number of passengers has increased by 5.6%
•the number of calls has increased by 7.1%
•the number of turnarounds has increased by 10.4%
•Copenhagen has experienced the largest numbers in terms of passengers, calls and turnarounds
Says Bo Larsen, Cruise Baltic Director: “By including the ports of St Petersburg, Kiel and Riga in our survey we wanted to ensure that we remain the ‘first port of call’ for our cruise industry colleagues who are looking for a comprehensive overview on developments in the Baltic Sea region.”
From 2000 to 2012
- the number of passengers to the region has increased by an average annual rate of 11.6% - from 1.1 million in 2000 to 4.2 million in 2012. Looking ahead to 2013 it is anticipated that the number of passengers will increase with a growth rate of 4.7%, representing an estimated increase of approximately 196,000 passengers, to more than 4.3million.
- the number of calls has increased by an average annual rate of 4.3% per year - from 1,532 in 2000, to 2,532 in 2012. In 2013 a 1.6% increase is anticipated to 2,573 calls.
- the number of turnarounds increased by an average annual rate of 9.4% - from 106 in 2000 to 312 in 2012. However, a decrease of 4.6% is expected in 2013, from 437 in 2012 and an estimated 417 in 2013.
In 2012, three of the top five ports (most passenger visits) saw growth: Stockholm has increased with the highest growth rate with 4.0% from 2011 to 2012 = 470,000; Copenhagen with a 2.6% increase since 2011 = 840,000 in 2012; and Tallinn with a small growth of 0.7% in 2012 = 440,504.
Expectations vary for 2013 however overall these are positive, looking at an increase of 5.0%. The number of calls in 2012 increased in four of the top five ports. Stockholm increased the most with 4.2%; Helsinki with 2.7%; Copenhagen with 1.1%m and Tallinn with 0.3%.
In 2012 Copenhagen was the largest turnaround port with figures of 173; Kiel with 125 – a growth of 8.7%; Rostock 53; Stockholm 50 – an increase of 28.8%; and Gothenburg 13 (almost doubling from 7 to 13)
In the Large segment comprising Kristiansand, Visby, Gothenburg, Gdynia, Riga, Kiel, Oslo and Rostock – those with between 50 - 199 calls - growth continues, 15.4% in 2012 from 1,244,282 passengers in 2011 to 1,436,252 in 2012.
The Medium segment, with between 25 – 49 calls – Gdansk, Klaipeda and Rønne have seen massive growth of 44.0% in 2012, from 46,360 passengers in 2011 to 66,870 in 2012. Rønne has experienced the strongest growth from 2011 to 2012 with 75.3%%
Overall the passenger growth in the Small segment, 0-24 calls, was 4.2% in 2012, however, with great variation within the group. In 2013 a massive increase of 53.2% is expected in this segment.
Bo Larsen comments: “These positive figures for the 2012 season collectively are a true and realistic result, however, as with the rest of the industry, double-digit growth has not been achievable, compared to the last 10 years. Considering the tough economic climate, we are pleased to have seen positive growth in 2012 and expect even more in 2013.
“Our objective at Cruise Baltic is to ensure that we continue to motivate and educate our partners and provide them with the right knowledge and access to information, enabling them to work together as a unified and collective force in the Baltic Sea region. This will result in increasing revenue from our existing, loyal cruise passenger base and hopefully attract more.”
Cruise Baltic is a network of cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea offering easy access to 10 countries on a string with an ocean of adventures. The association - started in 2004 with 12 destinations, headed by Director Bo Larsen - has now grown to 27 destinations
