Survey: Travel Agents Expect Cruise Business to Boom This Year
Photo Credit: A dog sled team welcomes the Ruby Princess to the port of Juneau in Southeast Alaska. Princess Cruises
Skift Take
Agents said late last year they were expecting big growth in the Caribbean, but it remains to be seen if the recent spread of the Zika virus in the region will have an impact.
Travel agents in North America expect to sell more cruises this year, especially to popular destinations like the Caribbean and Alaska.
According to results of a quarterly survey released Wednesday by the Cruise Lines International Association, 83 percent of agents who responded said they expect to see their sales volume increase this year.
The majority of agents — 77 percent — said they also expect travelers to spend more on cruises this year. That would be a welcome development for leaders of the world's largest cruise companies, who have been vocal about their desire to command higher fares and get passengers to part with more cash
