WTTC’s “Cruising for Impact” report highlights the positive impact of cruise tourism on communities | News
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched its latest report, Cruising for Impact, highlighting the positive impact cruise tourism has on communities and destinations around the world.
The report shows how cruise tourism is acting as a powerful driver of opportunity, supporting local livelihoods, strengthening communities and creating long-term value in coastal and port destinations.
In addition to these positive impacts, the industry contributed $98.5 billion to global GDP in 2024, generated $199 billion in total economic output, supported 1.8 million jobs and generated $60.1 billion in wages, underscoring its size and global reach.
A key finding, based on data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), highlights that more than 60% of cruise passengers return to destinations they first discovered through a cruise, demonstrating how the sector not only connects travelers to new places, but also helps sustain long-term tourism demand and ongoing benefits for local communities.
The report also highlights cruise tourism’s deep integration with local economies, supporting more than 1.4 million jobs on land. It further shows that one full-time job is supported for every 20 cruise passengers worldwide, directly linking visitor demand to livelihoods in various destinations.
WTTC’s research shows that $93 billion in direct cruise-related spending has been spent, much of which flows to local businesses, supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses and tourism micro-economies in port and coastal destinations around the world.
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 conservation, infrastructure development, environmental innovation and healthcare and crisis response.
The report also highlights how cruise tourism creates positive outcomes through strong collaboration between destinations, communities and industry partners, ensuring that growth is inclusive, sustainable and delivers long-term value for the places it touches.
With cruise passenger capacity expected to grow by 19% between 2022 and 2028, the sector is expected to play an even greater role in supporting communities and destinations around the world.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “Cruise tourism delivers real and lasting positive benefits to communities around the world.
“When travelers discover a destination through a cruise and choose to return, they create lasting opportunities for local businesses, support jobs and contribute to the long-term vitality of those communities.
“This report highlights the powerful positive impact of cruise tourism and shows how it connects people, supports livelihoods and creates shared value for destinations around the world.”
WTTC supports governments, destinations and industry leaders to ensure cruise tourism is fully integrated into national development strategies, with a focus on local sourcing, skills development and community partnership.
By aligning growth with long-term social value, the report concludes that cruise tourism can play an even greater role in supporting inclusive, resilient and thriving communities worldwide.
