Risposte Turismo’s new Italian Cruise Watch forecasts increased cruise calls at various ports
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Italian cruise ports are expected to welcome 10.8 million passengers in 2018 – a 6.4% rise from 2017 – according to a new report from Risposte Turismo.
The latest Italian Cruise Watch contains predictions about 35 Italian cruise ports, which handle 96% of the total number of cruise passengers in Italy. The report was presented by Francesco di Cesare, president of Risposte Turismo, during the opening of the seventh edition of Italian Cruise Day on 6 October.
According to the report, Italy’s cruise ports will welcome 4,600 calls in 2018, a 4.1% increase compared to 2017, but equivalent to 2012 levels.
Civitavecchia in Rome is expected to top the rankings and welcome 2.5 million passengers in 2018, 12% more than the number expected to visit by the end of 2017. Next will be Venice with 1.4 million passengers and Naples with just over one million cruise visitors, a 15% rise from 2017.
Ranked fourth is Savona, which expects to receive 950,000 passengers – a 13% increase – and fifth is Genoa, which will host 920,000 passengers, a 0.5% rise.
Civitavecchia is also at the top of the rankings for cruise calls – it will host 821 in 2018, 10.8% more than in 2017. Venice and Livorno will be the next busiest ports, welcoming 473 and 354 calls respectively.
This year, Italian Cruise Watch also analysed other aspects of the cruise segment. The study found that the number of passenger terminals will increase to 47 in 2018, up from 44 in 2017. The main ports plan to invest €300 million in the three-year period between 2018 and 2020. Just over half will be spent on improving safety and equipment, while the rest in infrastructures.
Italy’s travel agents were also interviewed for this edition of Italian Cruise Watch, and 42.3% expect the turnover generated by cruises alone to remain stable. A further 38% expect an increase in the forecasts for 2018 – this is expected to rise by about four points to 84.5%.