The BSR Sees Continued Growth in 2008

The countries of the BSR have joined forces in order to create a cruise option with fully integrated operations between ports and cities. Cruise Baltic network invites to a cruise experience out of the ordinary where the cruisepassangers can visit 10 countries on a string and experience oceans of adventures.

The activity of the cruise industry in the region has increased in recent years. Today Europe and the BSR are on many cruise passengers'wish lists, instead of the more traditional cruise destinations. This is the conclusion from a Cruise Baltic market review 2008 produced by Incentive Partners. The number of cruise passengers to Baltic cities has increased by an average of 12 per cent per year since 2000, and the Cruise Baltic members expect the increasing trend to continue in 2008. "Although the number of calls and turnarounds declined slightly in 2007, they are expected to increase again in 2008", says Thomas Odgaard, Incentive Partners. Baltic destinations are filling four of the top five places of the ports, which are attracting the most passengers in Northern Europe. The most popular ports of call are: St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Stockholm and Helsinki. And Copenhagen ranks as the largest turnaround port, expecting a record breaking 147 turnarounds in 2008.

Karlskrona is a member of the Cruise Baltic network and has seen a very positive trend. "We are nowadays more efficient and professional in both our marketing measures and in the way we take care of the cruise business as a whole", Sais Liliann Bjerström, marketing manager for the port of Karlskrona
The region is growing faster than the global cruise industry, which is turning its attention fully on Europe and partly also on Asia. Data from Seatrade (2008) shows that Baltic destinations have a market share of approximately 50 percent in Northern Europe. Cruise Baltic is a long-term co-operation and although 2007 showed a slight decline in number of calls and turnarounds, the overall trend is that the popularity of the Baltic's has grown tremendously over the last six years and 2008 estimations look strong. Bo Larsen, Director of Cruise Baltic says: "We are proud of the wide recognition we are achieving. In the latest Seatrade report we are mentioned as an enthusiastic promoter and perhaps the ultimate example of a cruise network. We are thrilled about the figures for 2008 and we definitely see Cruise Baltic as a long-term co-operation, aiming continuously to improve the attractions of cruising in the Baltic Sea region".