WTTC’s “Cruising for Impact” Report Highlights the Positive Impact of Cruise Tourism for Communities Worldwide
The industry contributed $98.5 billion to global GDP and supported 1.8 million jobs in 2024, with over 60% of cruise passengers returning to destinations.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched its latest report, Cruising for Impact, highlighting the positive impact that cruise tourism delivers for communities and destinations around the world.
The report shows 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.
Alongside these positive impacts, the 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, based on data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), highlights 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.
The report also highlights 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.
The report 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.
Cruise tourism brings real and lasting positive benefits to communities around the world.
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.
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
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC
WTTC supports governments, destinations and industry leaders in ensuring 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.
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to maximising the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector by partnering with governments, destinations, communities, and other stakeholders to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce poverty and foster peace, security, and understanding in our world.