Barbados and its Caribbean neighbours are still a leading choice cruise lovers, especially those from North America.
With local tourism officials expecting a bumper cruise season, a recent study commissioned by one of the world’s leading cruise associations showed there was generally good reason for optimism.
Business Research and Economic Advisors, in a 2014 report it said was commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association, said statistics showed the Caribbean remained “the principal cruise destination for passengers sourced from North America”.
“While its share of the cruise industry’s global deployment has fallen from 48 per cent in 2003 to 36 per cent in 2013, it still remains the largest destination market with 48.1 million bed days deployed in the region during 2013. This is a 37 per cent increase over the ten-year period,” the report stated.
“Within North America, the Caribbean, with 48.1 million bed days, accounted for more than three-fourths (76 per cent) of the capacity deployed in the market . Alaska was the next largest region with 6.3 million bed days or 10 per cent of the capacity in the market.
“Combined, Hawaii and Mexico West (ports on Mexico’s Pacific coast) accounted for eight per cent of the North American capacity with five million bed days. Finally, cruise lines deployed 3.7 million bed days among destinations in Canada, and the Atlantic coast of the United States, six per cent of the capacity deployed in North America.” (SC)
