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A new record of cruise passengers is expected in Italy in 2024, after the one achieved last year: 13.8 million passengers welcomed (+0.1% on 2023) and over 5,200 cruise ships docked at the dock (+6%) in 60 Italian ports. This is what emerges from the 2024 cruise special drawn up by the Rispetti Turismo company.
Italy, we read in the report, recorded, in 2023, a growth of 48% compared to 2022, as regards the volumes of passengers handled in ports, highlighting, at the same time, a more limited increase in the number of berths ( +0.3%).
High numbers already in 2023
Overall, the passengers handled last year were 13.79 million with over 4,900 touches recorded in 61 airports. Furthermore, last year there were 2 million cruise passengers embarked in Italian ports. Among these, the Civitavecchia port consolidates its role as the leading Italian port, with over 3.3 million cruise passengers handled, equal to a quarter of the national total.
Finally, in 2024, some ports should reach a new traffic record and among these include, first of all, Civitavecchia (+0.5% passengers 2024 on 2023) and then Naples (+3%) and Palermo (+6.4% ).
«The global cruise industry – underlines Francesco di Cesare, president of Rispetti Turismo – has started to grow again, paying attention today, more than yesterday, to a series of priorities and critical issues (from the relationship with local communities to the reduction of environmental impacts, and not only that) whose management now represents a necessity rather than a competitive advantage over other forms of holiday”.