In a new report, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlights the positive impact that cruise tourism delivers for communities and destinations around the world.
“Cruising for Impact” demonstrates how cruise tourism acts as a powerful driver of opportunity, supporting local livelihoods, strengthening communities, and creating long-term value in coastal and port destinations.
The cruise industry contributed US$98.5 billion to global GDP and generated US$199 billion in total economic output, supported 1.8 million jobs, and delivered US$60.1 billion in wages in 2024, underlining its scale and global reach.
A key finding of the new report — based on data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) — indicates that over 60% of cruise passengers return to destinations they first discovered via cruise, demonstrating how the sector not only connects travellers to new places, but helps sustain long-term tourism demand and ongoing benefits for local communities.
As well, “Cruising for Impact” reveals the depth of cruise tourism’s integration with local economies, with over 1.4 million jobs supported onshore. It further shows that for every 20 cruise passengers, one full-time job is supported globally, directly linking visitor demand to livelihoods across destinations.
WTTC’s research reveals US$93 billion in direct cruise-related spending, much of which flows into local businesses, supporting entrepreneurs, small enterprises, and tourism micro-economies in port and coastal destinations worldwide.
Through seven core pillars, the report outlines how cruise tourism contributes to positive social outcomes, including job creation and skills development, diversity and inclusion, community enrichment, cultural preservation, infrastructure development, environmental innovation, and health and crisis response.
It also highlights how cruise tourism is creating positive outcomes through strong collaboration between destinations, communities, and industry partners, helping to ensure that growth is inclusive, sustainable, and delivers long-term value for the places it touches.
With cruise passenger capacity projected to grow by 19% between 2022 and 2028, the sector is expected to play an even greater role in supporting communities and destinations worldwide.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, observed that: “Cruise tourism brings real and lasting positive benefits to communities around the world.”
Guevara continued: “When travellers discover a destination through cruising and choose to return, they create ongoing opportunities for local businesses, support jobs, and contribute to the long-term vitality of those communities.”
And she concluded: “This report highlights the powerful positive impact of cruise tourism, showing how it connects people, supports livelihoods, and creates shared value for destinations around the world.”
