09 July, 2014: A recent article published in leading Maltese newspaper the Times of Malta speaks of how German tourists are helping boost the demand for European seafaring and river cruises. Italy is, according to the piece, one of the destinations to benefit from this trend. 

In fact, according to the piece in question, when it comes to river cruises, Italy and other Mediterranean countries are among the most popular locations for German tourists to indulge – along with Scandinavia. These were the main destinations benefitting from the Teutonic love of cruising and other short holidays, according to a report referring to numbers from 2013. 

At the heart of this love for cruising on the part of the German tourists is their appreciation for short-trip holidays, which this form of vacation notably potentiates. As a result, many companies offering seafaring and river cruises (Italy included) have seen a large portion of bookings from Germans. 

In fact, according to the same report, the country has seen the number of bookings for both seafaring and riverboat cruises rise by 9.2 percent in 2013, allowing it to tie with Britain as the European nation with the highest volume of bookings. Together, these two countries account for about 27 percent of the total number of cruise reservations in the Old Continent. 

The growth in volumes for both Britain and Germany is in line with the increase verified all throughout Europe. According to the same report, last year’s cruise passengers in the Old Continent alone number about 6.4 million – a 3.6 percent increase over 2012 (a year that had already seen an increase of 1.3 percent in its own right.) This makes Europe the world’s second-largest market for cruises, beaten out only by the United States. River cruises in particular have experienced a rapid increase, now ranking among the highest growing sectors of the travel industry. 

About European Waterways: 

European Waterways provide luxury all-inclusive boat holidays and vacations in Europe. Contact them at: www.gobarging.com. 

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