Britain's tourism economy continues to benefit as cruise passengers spend more either at the beginning of their cruise from the UK or during day trips to British ports. The value of cruising was further enhanced by the 10 per cent growth in passenger embarkations to 1.04m and the 20 per cent year-on-year increase in day calls which reached 866,000 in 2013.
The 2013 cruise year saw each passenger visit at a British port (combining the embarkation and day call numbers and excluding air fares) generate an average spend of €100 per passenger visit, an increase of 10% over 2012. With the average cruise ship now carrying 2000 passengers, the vessels are bringing in some €200,000 per visit. This significant passenger spend boosts local and regional tourism revenues and forms an integral part of the overall cruise line spend in the UK which accounted for over €3 billion in 2013. The estimated €3.01 billion includes passenger and crew expenditure, cruise line purchases, ship repair and employee remuneration.
'Cruise tourism is a valuable source of income to ports and destinations across Britain and is increasingly being factored into local and regional tourism,' says Daren Taylor, Chair CruiseBritain. 'The vessels that can be accommodated range from small ships carrying a handful of passengers through to boutique ships and then up to the largest ships deployed in Europe. This wide range gives an opportunity for all ports, including those without major facilities and infrastructure, to benefit from the growing popularity of cruising to and around Britain. The figures for day calls at British ports are increasing steadily and have nearly quadrupled over the last 10 years.'
'When cruise line direct expenditure on food and beverage, fuel and other non-durable goods, jobs, business services and travel agent commissions, plus indirect benefits from suppliers and employee compensation, are added into the equation, it is clear that cruise business is big business for the UK economy,' added Taylor.
