(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JUNE 27 - Greece is the third most
popular cruise destination, with a 17% share of the market, but
only sixth when it comes to the amount of revenues earned, as
daily Kathimerini reports. Figures released by the European
Cruise Council show 6.2 million people took a cruise last year,
a 9% increase from 2010. Of these, 4.7 million visited Greece
but only earned 605 million euros from this. In comparison,
Italy topped the list of visitors with 6.4 million and earnings
with 4.4 billion. Booking volumes for cruises dipped earlier
this year after the Costa Concordia disaster in January, when 32
people died after the cruise ship struck rocks on the Italian
coast. However, the industry says bookings have recovered. The
total contribution of the cruise industry to the European
economy increased to a record of 36.7 billion euro in 2011 (from
35.2 billion euros in 2010), up 54% from 2006. (ANSAmed).
