Global cruise industry sees growing demand, but wary of port protests

The global cruise industry expects to carry 10% more passengers by 2028 than the 31.7 million who took cruise holidays in 2023, when the sector surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but sees some routes exposed to protests against overtourism.

Long criticized for its impact on the environment and coastal communities, the industry has ordered 57 additional cruise ships on top of the roughly 300 currently in operation to meet expected demand, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) European director Marie-Caroline Laurent said.

At the same time, companies are working to adapt ships so that they can switch to electricity from highly polluting marine fuels when moored in ports and be ready to comply with EU maritime environmental regulations by 2030.

But as tourism continues to grow, cruise operators are facing a growing debate over excessive tourist numbers in crowded European port cities like Barcelona, ​​Spain, the scene of protests this month in which a small group sprayed tourists with water pistols.

Cruise ship passengers make up only 4 percent of all tourists visiting Barcelona, ​​CLIA officials said.

Jaume Collboni, the mayor of Barcelona, ​​which is Europe’s largest cruise port, told Reuters his administration would seek a new deal with the port to reduce the number of day cruise calls.

CLIA’s Laurent said violent protests could impact routes in the future.

“We will consider adjusting routes if for any reason we feel that not all passengers will be treated well,” she said.

Instead, the industry could offer more cruise vacations to Asia, Northern Europe and the Caribbean in the coming years, as well as to various ports in the Mediterranean.

The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that Spanish tourism revenues will reach almost €100 billion this year, 11% more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

At the same time, the cruise industry is forecasting a 5% increase in visitors to Spain in 2024, less than the 13% increase in summer visitor arrivals predicted by Spanish authorities.