Cruise Baltic Reports 11.7 Percent Growth in Passengers

Cruise Baltic, a network of 27 ports in the region, reports continued growth in most segments of the industry in 2009. The 2010 Market Review survey conducted in January found that the cruise business in the Baltic Sea region continued to increase in 2009; however, the growth is slower than in 2008. The number of passengers increased by 11.7 percent in 2009, while the number of calls increased 3.8 percent and the number of turnarounds grew by 5.8 percent.

From 2000 to 2009, the number of passengers has increased by an average annual rate of 12.9 percent, from 1.1 million in 2000 to 3.1 million in 2009. The number of passengers to the region in 2010 is expected to be approximately the same as in 2009. From 2000 to 2009, the number of calls increased by an average annual rate of 4.6 percent, from 1,443 in 2000 to 2,162 in 2009.

In 2010, an 8 percent decrease is expected. From 2000 to 2009, the number of turnarounds increased by an average annual rate of 9.5 percent, from 106 in 2000 to 239 in 2009. For 2010, a decrease is expected from 239 in 2009 to 206.

The top five ports for passenger visits continue to be Copenhagen, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Helsinki. There is a continued growth at ports receiving 75 to 200 calls -- Gdynia, Oslo, Riga and Rostock. Last year, those ports saw a growth of 8 percent to 634,000, with Riga experiencing particularly strong growth. Passenger growth in the small segment -- ports receiving up to 75 calls -- was 7 percent in 2009, although there is a great variation within the ports. For example, Göteborg saw its passenger numbers triple in 2009, while eight ports experienced a decrease.