UK river passengers soar
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The number of Brits taking a river cruised has risen in 2012 by 14% – reaching 130,000 people for the first time – with the industry now estimated to be worth GBP175 million.
The figures, which have been released by the PSA, also show that Europe has dominated as the destination of choice for Brits – with 69% of all cruises being taken on the continent.
The increase is being put down to a year of relative stability in Egypt as well as extra capacity within some of the industry’s key rivers. Overall 2012 saw 12 river vessels added across the year – 2013 will again see tonnage increase.
Despite the dominance of Europe as a region, the Nile proved the most popular waterway for Brits – controlling 22% of the market – representing a 12% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase.
The second and third rivers were the Rhine/ Moselle (20.7% y-o-y increase) and Danube (11.6% y-o-y increase).
Another interesting aspect to come out in the PSA’s report was that 77% of Brits cited ‘value for money’ as a key determinant of whether they would book. That’s up from 54% in 2011.
The report also said that only a minority (14%) of the UK’s river cruisers took multiple river holidays in 2012 – that compares to 49% of ocean cruisers.
To read Cruise New’s guide to selling river cruises click here.