CruiseBritain Port Statistics 2007

The latest CruiseBritain Port Cruise Statistics revealed that the annual growth in UK cruise passenger embarkations and disembarkations slowed in 2007 but still recorded a 3% increase to 591,000 passenger embarkations. Between 2001 and 2007 the average annual increase was14% and the slow down in 2007 is reflective of low increase of ex-UK cruise passengers. Nevertheless, the 131,000 overseas passengers embarking at UK ports was an increase of 5%, worth approximately £13 million.

2007 was a disappointing year for port of call passengers. Against an average annual increase of 13% between 2002 and 2007, there were 17,000 fewer port of call passengers in 2007 than 2006, a contraction of 4%. Two of the main reasons for the contraction in port of call passengers were inclement weather and the lack of infrastructure to support increasingly larger ships. However, most ports are predicting an increase in port of call passengers for 2008. Total cruise tourism expenditure at ports of call was approximately £35 million in 2007.

CruiseBritain Cruise Port Statistics is compiled by IRN Research ( www.irn-research.com ). The 2007 CruiseBritain Cruise Port Statistics is available by clicking here .

For further information contact:
Fred Hitchins, IRN Research, Tel: 00 44 121 635 5210
Date: 21 April 2008