By
Alex Smith |
Cruise tourism in Southeast Asia generated $10 billion in total economic output in 2024, five per cent of global cruise industry output, according to research by Tourism Economics for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board.
The inaugural Economic Impact Assessment of Cruise Tourism for Southeast Asian countries found that the region recorded $2,564 per passenger visit, 2.4 times the global average, while accounting for 2 per cent of global cruise passenger visits, equivalent to 3.9 million visits.
The assessment also reports that cruise tourism contributed $4.5 billion to regional gross domestic product (GDP), representing 5 per cent of global cruise-related GDP. The industry supported approximately 530,000 jobs across tourism and port-related sectors, equivalent to 30 per cent of global cruise-related employment, and generated $4.1 billion in wages, representing 7 per cent of global cruise-related wages.
“This study reinforces Southeast Asia's cruise tourism value proposition, driven by a growing middle class, rising demand for diverse travel experiences, and destination variety,” said Jean Ng, assistant chief executive of the Experience Development Group at the Singapore Tourism Board. “As ASEAN's lead coordinator for cruise developments, Singapore is committed to working with regional neighbours and global industry partners to unlock Southeast Asia’s potential for cruising and build a destination network that attracts cruise lines while delivering economic benefits across the region.”
Passenger sentiment data indicates that 85 per cent of cruise travellers rated their Southeast Asian experience positively, while 47 per cent indicated an intention to return for land-based travel. The report states that cruise tourism acts as a gateway to broader tourism demand across the region.
Market concentration analysis shows that Singapore and Malaysia accounted for 70 per cent of Southeast Asian cruise passenger visits in 2024. Singapore represented 48 per cent of the region’s 3.9 million passenger visits, while Malaysia accounted for 22 per cent. The study notes that other destinations in the region may have scope to expand cruise-related infrastructure and services.
Employment linked to cruise activity was concentrated in the Philippines and Indonesia, which together accounted for 85 per cent of the regional cruise-related workforce.
“We greatly value the collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board on this project,” said Bud Darr, president and CEO of CLIA. “Their partnership enabled us to broaden the annual CLIA economic impact studies and, for the first time, measure the economic contribution of cruise tourism across Southeast Asia within our global analysis. The results underscore the region’s role as a driver of jobs and economic activity in the global cruise sector.”