Cruise spending topped $55 billion last year

An annual CLIA study said the cruise industry generated $55
billion in direct spending globally in 2014 and accounted for nearly 1 million
jobs.

The study on the global economic impact of cruise tourism is
produced for CLIA by Business Research and Economics Advisors of Exton, Pa.

It found that cruise lines, passengers and crew spent $55.8
billion last year. When imputed and indirect spending are factored in, the
industry’s total economic impact was nearly $120 billion, the study said.

The production of that output required 939,232 full-time
equivalent employees, the study said.

Of the 22 million people that cruised last year, 12.16
million came from North America and 6.39 million from Europe. The remaining
3.49 million came from the rest of the world.

When it comes to growth, the North American passenger count
grew 33% over the past 10 years, while Europe grew 123% and the rest of the
world 209%.

The study puts Australia’s passenger number at just over 1
million and China at 700,000 for 2014.