- Cruise tourism contributed $98.5bn to global GDP in 2024
- Sector supported 1.8m jobs worldwide
- More than 60pc of cruise passengers return as stayover visitors
- Direct cruise spending reached $93bn
- Capacity growth of 19pc projected between 2022 and 2028
The World Travel and Tourism Council has released its Cruising for Impact report revealing that global cruise tourism contributed $98.5bn to global GDP and supported 1.8m jobs worldwide in 2024. The research highlights that the sector drives long-term value by fostering repeat visitors and community development across seven core social impact pillars. The report shows the cruise sector generated $199bn in total economic output.
The sector delivered $60.1bn in wages with over 1.4m of the 1.8m supported jobs located onshore. The cruise industry supports one full time job globally for every 20 cruise passengers. Direct cruise related spending accounted for $93bn benefiting small local businesses. More than 60pc of cruise passengers return later as stayover visitors to destinations they first discovered by ship.
Projected passenger capacity growth of 19pc between 2022 and 2028 is expected. The seven core pillars focus on job creation, skills development, diversity and inclusion, community enrichment, cultural preservation, infrastructure development, environmental innovation and health crisis response.
