Cruise not likely to grow this year, say industry experts
Cruise is the product least expected to grow this year, according to a snap survey of industry professionals attending the ninth annual Barclays Travel Forum.
When asked to select the products that would see the most growth this year, 22% of the audience chose all-inclusive holidays, 20% said independent travel, 21% said long-haul and tailormade trips, but only 4% chose cruise.
Speaking at the Travel Forum, Royal Caribbean International managing director Stuart Leven said the cruise industry was continuing to grow and claimed there had been more premium sales this year than last, but he admitted the challenge was converting customers who are indifferent to cruising.
For this reason, he said travel agents were not at risk of becoming defunct in the cruise market. "There is a role for cruise experts to play because cruise companies can’t reach all those people who haven’t yet been converted to cruising," said Leven.
Cruise marketing body CLIA UK & Ireland will launch its first Premium & Luxury Expo, giving more than 80 delegates the chance to visit three ships, later this year.
CLIA will reveal details of the two-day event, which will take place in Dover on August 30 and 31, at this week’s Selling Cruise Conference.
The Expo will feature business sessions, networking opportunities with cruise lines and businesses, a celebratory dinner and visits to Crystal Symphony, Holland America Line’s Ryndam and SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream 1, said CLIA.
"Travel agents will have the rare opportunity to see, in one place, three very different ships within the premium and luxury range, ships which range in size from just 112 passengers to 1,260," said CLIA UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer.
"We want delegates to leave knowing they can confidently sell this sector with many of their customers being potential premium and luxury passengers."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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