Report: Adriatic Welcomes 3.5 Million Cruise Passenger Movements in 2022

Dubrovnik, Croatia. Photo source: Risposte Turismo

A total of nearly 3.5 million passenger movements were recorded last year in more than 30 Adriatic cruise ports of call, according to the sixth edition of the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report.

Curated by tourism research and consultancy company, Risposte Turismo, the research report is released prior to the 6th Adriatic Sea Forum, an international event dedicated to maritime tourism in the Adriatic, which will be held May 4-5 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

According to the latest edition of the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report, Italy at the end of 2022 was the leading nation in the area in terms of the number of cruise passengers handled (1.5 million), ahead of Croatia (almost 900,000) and Greece (about 533,000).

The initial preview data provided by Risposte Turismo shows that a total of nearly 3.5 million passenger movements were recorded last year in more than 30 Adriatic cruise ports of call analysed (+242 percent vs 2021) and just under 3,000 ship calls. The figures, however, fall far short of the values recorded for record year 2019, compared to which Risposte Turismo notes a 39 percent drop in passengers and an 11 percent drop in ship calls.

Croatia nevertheless ranks first in terms of the number of ship calls (974), ahead of Italy (944) and Montenegro (441) − a result linked to the significant number of berths for units presenting with lower passenger capacities.

Adriatic ports ranking: Corfu, Greece, in first place

The port of Corfu, Greece. Photo source: CLIA

The Adriatic ports ranking sees, at the end of 2022, Corfu in first place, with more than half a million passengers handled (+125 percent vs 2021) and 392 ship calls, followed by Trieste, with nearly 425,000 passengers handled (+216 percent vs 2021) and 183 ship calls, and Kotor, with 418,000 cruise passengers handled (+4500 percent vs 2021) and 432 ship calls. Bari and Dubrovnik close the top-five ranking with nearly 411,000 and more than 377,000 cruise passengers handled (+95 percent and +242 percent vs 2021) and 185 and 314 ship calls, respectively.

Ferries: Nearly 18 million passengers handled in 2022

There were also positive results for the ferry, hydrofoil and catamaran sector, with a +27 percent rise in traffic in 2022 vs 2021 and 18 million passengers handled (up from 14 million in 2021) and 72,000 ship calls (up from 61,000 in 2021), although the sector saw an 11% fall vs the pre-pandemic year.

Croatia is confirmed as the leading country for ferry tourism flows, accumulating over 50 percent of passengers (9 million, +20.7 percent vs 2021) − and 52 percent of ship calls (over 37,791, +10.1 percent vs 2021) in 2022 −, followed by Greece (4.5 million, +27 percent vs 2021) and by Italy (2.8 million, +33.6 percent vs 2021).

As for ports, Split closed 2022, ranking first with its 4.8 million passengers handled (+25 percent vs 2021),with Igoumenitsa lagging well behind with 2.5 million passengers handled (+40 percent) and followed by Zadar, with 2.45 million passengers handled (+11 percent vs 2021), with Bari confirming its position as the leading port in terms of passengers handled on international routes (over one million, 100 percent).

Turning to nautical tourism, Risposte Turismo’s analysis mapped 341 marinas, again confirming Italy’s leadership for both the number of facilities (192) and number of moorings (more than 49,000) − ahead of Croatia (126 marinas and more than 20,700 moorings) and Montenegro (8 marinas and 3,550 moorings).

In all, Italy and Croatia host more than 93 percent of the facilities recorded by Risposte Turismo and 87.6 percent of the total moorings supply side of the Adriatic (approaching 80,000 moorings). Topping the ranking for number of boat spaces per marina is Montenegro (444 moorings) followed by Greece (441) and Slovenia (440).

The 2023 report also contains a new focus on the Adriatic’s ability to accommodate large superyachts. 24 facilities were mapped in the Adriatic for 125 moorings for yachts (over 50 metres). Leading among the Adriatic countries is Montenegro with 71 moorings, followed by Italy (30) and Croatia (24).

Risposte Turismo has been publishing the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report, which analyses the flows, size, nature and directions of tourism movements by sea in the Adriatic, since 2013.

The latest edition of the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report will be presented in detail at the 6th Adriatic Sea Forum.

The forum’s program can be downloaded here.

Participants must register here to take part in the Adriatic Sea Forum, which will take place in English (translations will be provided in Italian and Croatian).

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a communication sponsor of the 6th Adriatic Sea Forum.