| The
cruise industry is undergoing a period of rapid growth and
remarkable change. In North America particularly the cruise
industry is undergoing phenomenal growth with a record 5.5
million cruise passengers in 1998, representing an 8.6 per
cent increase in passengers over the previous year. To meet
this demand over 30 new ships costing in excess of US$ 10
billion are on order for delivery early in the new millennium.
The industry body, Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA), attributes this growth to several factors, including
the increased capacity as new ships are introduced combined
with a stronger focus by travel consultants on selling cruises.
The cruise ships currently being built are designed for
a new generation of passengers with broader, more varied
interests and these ships embrace a number of innovations
such as large multi-level hotel-style atrium-lobbies, fitness
complexes, and business centres. The cruise industry has
considerable economic impacts, with the US sector alone
generating more than 450,000 jobs accounting for US$ 15
billion in wages and billions of dollars in the purchase
of goods and services. This paper outlines some of the challenges
facing the growth of the industry such as the growing size
of the market, the increasing size of the ships and a number
of new technologies, facilities and issues. |
