This executive summary exhibits the findings on the cruise industry, of both the secondary study (P1.4) and
the primary survey (P2.3 & P2.6) carried out in the pilot destination of Corfu. The analysis covers the
international, European, Mediterranean and national level, while the primary research in Corfu allows for
empirical documentation of the economic, social, environmental and intergovernmental dimensions of
cruise tourism at the destination level.
Cruising is one of the fastest-growing forms of international tourism, with global passenger traffic amounting
to 34.6 million passengers in 2024 and projected to exceed 37.7 million in 2025. Despite the severe disruption
of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector demonstrated remarkable resilience, exceeding pre-pandemic levels
in many markets. This dynamic recovery confirms the maintained attractiveness of the touristic “product”
,
while at the same time highlighting the challenges related to sustainability, governance and social acceptance
at the host destinations.