British people took more cruises than any other country
in Europe last year, according to the latest cruise statistics
released today.
The annual figures from the Passenger Shipping Association
included statistics provided by the European Cruise Council for the
first time. They showed 1.03 million Brits took a cruise last year,
a 7% rise on 2003, compared to 551,000 Germans and 400,000
Italians.
PSA director William Gibbons said the cruise industry now
represented 5% of the UK package-holiday market. “With the current
rate of growth, I anticipate we will reach 1.5 million ocean
passengers by 2010.”
Cruising is the fastest growing sector in the UK travel
industry, with £1.24 billion spent last year.