Page 77 - iGREECE_CRUISING DECEMBER 2023

Cruising and

recreational boating

in the Mediterranean

Maritime transport represents one of the most

important activities of the blue economy for the

Mediterranean. The Mediterranean represents 27%

of global maritime traffic and hosts 10% of the world’s

cruises. The growth of the cruise sector is particularly

strong: it is the most important sector of the tourism

economy in terms of gross value added and job cre-

ation. In recent years, the number of passengers has

increased considerably both globally and in the Medi-

terranean. Cruises in the Mediterranean increased by

8% between 2017 and 2018, for a total of more than 4

million passengers..
F ollowing global trends (annual 11.5% compared to 2018. Since 2011, the

passenger growth rate of 6.63%
total number of cruise passenger move-
from 1990 to 2020), the number
ments in Mediterranean port has never
of cruise passengers in Mediter-
ranean ports is increasing. More than 31 fallen below 25 million (see Figure 1). The
Mediterranean is the first destination area
million cruise passenger movements were for European cruise passengers, and the
recorded in 2019, with an increase of second largest market in the world.

i GR E E C E TR A V E L