By
Alex Smith |
The latest edition of the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report has forecast over 22 million cruise and ferry passenger movements in 2023, representing significant growth in the region’s passenger shipping sector.
More than 18 million passenger movements are expected onboard ferries and hydrofoils in 2023, which would be a 5-10 per cent increase over numbers in 2022. Growth is predicted to be particularly significant at the ports of Bari and Brindisi in Italy, with increases of over 10 per cent expected to take annual passenger numbers to around 1.1 million and 400,000, respectively.
More rapid growth is expected in cruising, which is predicted to rise 27 per cent to 4.3 million passenger movements, though this would still be below the region’s historical record in 2019. Corfu in Greece, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Kotor in Montenegro are anticipated to be the most popular destinations, with each scheduled to receive over 500,000 cruise passengers.
The report also outlines more than €100 million ($97 million) in investments for sea tourism between the second half of 2022 and 2024, with new mooring planned in nine facilities in Italy, Croatia and Albania.
“Through our research work we have found data that enable us to sketch out growth in 2023 versus 2022 for all the maritime tourism of the Adriatic,” said Francesco di Cesare, president of Risposte Turismo. “Supply and demand are growing, the result of investment and eager efforts on the part of operators to revive pre-pandemic affairs, as well as a desire on the part of tourists to return to holidaymaking. However, volumes will not return to those of 2019. One must also reflect on hindrances to more rapid recovery to pre-Covid levels alongside the force of attraction that is so fitting for an area of such great potential and wealth as the Adriatic.”
The Adriatic Sea Tourism Report was published by Risposte Tourisme and presented by di Cesare during the opening of the fifth edition of the Adriatic Sea Forum, hosted by Bari Cruise Terminal between 6-7 October.