Stockholm Sets New Record for Cruise Passenger Visits

This year’s cruise season in Stockholm has set a new record. At the end of the last week of the season, more than 440,000 cruise passengers had visited Stockholm, which is an increase of 60,000 compared to 2008. The final cruise liner to visit Stockholm this season, the Braemar, arrived at Stadsgården on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

“More than 440,000 passengers is a fantastic statistic that shows the power of attraction of Stockholm as a destination. U.S.A., Germany and Great Britain are still the major cruise countries, but the 2009 results demonstrate that our marketing efforts in Europe have yielded results. The strongest growth markets are Spain and Italy, providing us with the impetus to continue to back cruise tourism,” said Josefin Haraldsson, project leader for Stockholm Cruise Network at the Stockholm Visitors Board.

The revenue generated by cruise travelers is important and profitable for the city. These travelers spend between SEK 450 million ($54 million) and SEK 500 million ($71 million) in the city, approximately SEK 1,100 ($157) per person.

This season 84,000 cruise passengers were so called “turnaround” passengers. These are passengers who either begin or end their cruise in Stockholm. This demographic group is particularly important to the tourist industry as it generates overnight-stays in Stockholm.

In recent years, Ports of Stockholm has invested in new cruise centers. A new cruise center opened in the port of Frihamnen in 2008 and during 2010 another new center will open in the Stora Tullhuset building at the Stadsgårdskajen quay.

This new center means that the city can provide passengers with a more comprehensive service, such as tourist information, a café and shopping. In 2008, 265 ships called in Stockholm; in 2009, 293 did. In 2008, 365,000 cruise passengers called; in 2009, 443,000 did.

A survey of 1,200 cruise visitors found that 87 percent were happy or very happy with their visit to Stockholm, 73 percent say that it is likely or very likely that they will recommend a holiday in Stockholm to a friend, 89 percent thought that their visit to Stockholm was better or much better than they had expected it to be, and 82 percent were happy or very happy with the welcoming services in Stockholm.