Cruising is a growth sector - Capricorn Enterprise

This year’s Australian Cruise Association (ACA) Conference entitled “Anchoring Success Across Every Region” was the third time Capricorn Enterprise, GAPDL and GPC have attended, to help grow connections and invite key cruise ship and shore excursion representatives to our destination to ensure that Keppel Bay and Gladstone Port are considered in future cruise ship itineraries for both the smaller expedition ships as well as the larger passenger ships respectively.

While this year’s spotlight was on WA, next year’s conference will be held in Brisbane, which will provide a great opportunity to showcase the multiple port and anchorage options in Queensland.

The following snapshot of the cruise industry demonstrates this growth sector for our regional visitor economy, with invitations already forwarded to key representatives to visit in the coming months.

CRUISING IS THRIVING WORLDWIDE

Less than 1% of ships on the sea are passenger ships
34.6 million ocean cruise passengers last year (42M pax by the end of 2028)
Strong growth in first time and younger cruisers
Intent to cruise remains at high levels
This global momentum creates new opportunities for Australia
82% of cruisers will cruise again
68% of international travellers are open to cruising
The cruise economy supports 26,000 Australian jobs

CHANGING CRUISE DEMOGRAPHICS

Nearly one-third first-time cruisers(up from 25% in 2019)
Gen-X & Millennials leading interest
Average age 46.5; over one-third under 40
Growth in multi-generational and repeat cruising

A CLEANER, SMARTER GLOBAL FLEET

81 new ships on order through 2036 (US$70B)
Strong support from the investment community
Focus on LG, methanol, biofuels & hybrid tech
Net-zero emissions by 2050 is industry’s goal
Cruise ships among the cleanest vessels at sea
Industry investing in cleaner energy & port partnerships

PATH TO NET ZERO

Sustainable fuels: LNG, methanol, biofuel, hydrogen, hybrid
Advanced efficiency; air lubrication, waste heat recovery, hull coatings, smart energy management
Advocacy for sustainable infrastructure investment
AU needs supportive port and fuel infrastructure to benefit

STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES

63 cruise ships will visit Australia this summer
Hundreds of thousands of passengers across all coastal states and territories
Passenger numbers grew to 1.3m last year – one of our best ever results
Australasia is one of the world’s most passionate and committed cruise regions
Innovation, creativity, and unforgettable guest experiences continue to drive growth

TOP TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2025

Prioritizing eco-friendly initiatives, there is a growing interest in nature and outdoor experiences
More food-focused and cultural immersion activities
Social status is a driver for the choice of experience in younger generations
Technology plays a bigger role, with AI adoption increasing and virtual reality used to showcase destinations

The conference included a number of very interesting panels including:

State of the Australian Cruise Industry and Future Outlook
Decoding Deployment
Unpacking Shorex and Pre-Post Cruise Opportunities
Setting Up Ports for the Next Decade of Cruise
The Rise of Expedition and Ultra-Luxury Cruising – Benefits to Destinations
Reflections and Regional Resilience

Capricorn Enterprise is a Member of ACA, which includes our destination in their promotional material, which means we are literally ‘on the map’, which wasn’t the case 3 years ago!

We have hosted a number of targeted cruise famils over the past two years and welcomed boutique cruise ships to Keppel Bay.

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