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Europe's cruise industry has delivered a record boost to Europe's economic recovery, but CLIA Chairman Pierfranceso Vago has warned that future growth requires action to unlock potential. Figures released today by CLIA Europe reveal that the cruise industry's economic output in Europe reached a new record of €40.2 billion in 2014, up 2.2% since 2013. The direct expenditures generated by the industry reached €16.6 billion, up from €16.2 billion in 2013.

In 2014 the cruise industry also generated almost 10,000 new jobs across Europe, with 349,000 now employed in cruise and cruise related businesses, including over 82,000 manufacturing jobs. Wages and other benefits for European workers reached €10.75 billion.

Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe's Chairman, said:

"The cruise industry is making a vital contribution to Europe's economic recovery. In 2014 the cruise industry injected nearly €40 billion into the European economy and sustained almost 350,000 European jobs, over 80,000 of which were in the manufacturing sector. These record results are something we've all worked hard for and we should celebrate and build on."

But on a cautionary note he added, "While future growth can be achieved in Europe, it is far from guaranteed." He continued:

"Although a record 6.4 million European residents booked cruises in 2014 last year and European shipyards with record order books for new cruise ships remain the centre of the world's cruise shipbuilding, there are some worrying trends. For example the numbers embarking on cruises from European ports is down by 3.6% to 5.85 million."

He concluded, "This downward trend in Europe as a destination is a result of the serious hurdles to growth, which if ignored risk leaving that potential forever locked up and risk stalling the year on year economic growth we have all worked hard to deliver. Europe needs to tackle them by implementing environmental legislation in a harmonised way, streamlining visa procedures, investing in coastal infrastructure, and improving port facilities."

According to CLIA Europe's 2015 Economic Contribution Report, 6.4 million European residents booked a cruise holiday in 2014, representing a 0.5% increase over 2013 and accounting for 30% of all cruise passengers worldwide. Europe is also a major destination for cruise passengers and ships from around the world, attracting substantial tourism investment and spending. 5.85 million passengers embarked on their cruises from European ports in 2014, a 3.6% decline from 2013.

Around one million passengers came from outside the Europe.

Europe remains the centre of the world's cruise shipbuilding. Spending on new builds and maintenance has risen for a third year, following a three-year decline ending in 2012. 29 new ships are on the order books of European shipyards until 2018, with a total value of almost €16 billion. European shipyards, which build most of the world's state-of-the-art cruise liners, enjoyed a 12.8% increase in their revenue from new construction and maintenance from 2013. In 2014, cruise lines spent €4.55 billion on new builds and refurbishments in Europe, the third annual increase.

Key 2014 figures released by CLIA Europe:

• 42 cruise lines domiciled in Europe, operating 123 cruise ships with a capacity of around 146,000 lower berths.
• A further 60 vessels with a capacity of around 89,000 lower berths deployed in Europe by 18 non-European cruise lines.
• €40.2 billion in total output.
• €16.6 billion in direct spending by cruise lines and their passengers and crew.
• 348,930 jobs.
• €10.75 billion in employee compensation.