The German source market for cruises, which is among the fastest growing ones in the world, is anticipated to reach 2.0 million passengers next year and 2.5 million in 2015, Hamburg Cruise Center ?(HCC) said in a statement.
?Experts forecast up to 2.0 million German ocean cruise passengers in 2015 and 2.5 million by 2020. This growth will further benefit the cruise hub Hamburg, which has to date 186 cruise calls scheduled for the 2014 season. As such, the number of passengers is due to increase to over 600,000 (+ 8%),? HCC said.
The year 2015 will see Hamburg take its next major step forward as a cruise destination, with the scheduled completion of the third cruise terminal and the positioning of the AIDAprima, which is planned to begin and end its cruises in Hamburg every seven days over 52 weeks of the year.
?Just in time, the new berth will go into operation. The location is across the river from Hamburg’s current terminals, fewer than two kilometers away from many of the main sights in the center and a short ride by ferry. Traveling time to the international airport will be about half an hour,? the port said.
The facility will be constructed on a plot measuring approximately 20 hectares and comprise two terminal buildings (for incoming and outgoing passengers), a 1,800-square-meter baggage hall, vast quay space and parking for coaches and up to 1,546 cars. A separate landing stage will be built for local passenger ferries that will link the facility to the city center. This third terminal plans to open by June 2015, which will handle 6,000 to 8,000 passengers during a full 10-hour turnaround.
The cruise industry is a significant economic factor, justifying new infrastructure projects. The Chamber of Commerce has now for the second time presented accounts for the value creation of the cruise industry in Hamburg, based on the 2013 figures.
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