Initial findings from the Expedition Cruise Network’s (ECN) inaugural annual survey has revealed that 70% of their expedition cruise (line) operator members have seen a growth in sales of their expedition product this year. Another 25% say that sales were on a par with 2022.
The ECN revealed the first results of the 2023 annual insights report, which will be published later this year, at their first member and media networking event earlier this month.
While 56% of expedition cruise operator members reported that more than 50% of their business comes through travel trade channels, only a third of these members generated more than 20% of their expedition cruise sales from the UK travel trade market, meaning that the UK trade has got an enormous opportunity to develop its sales of expedition cruise.
As part of the insights report, the ECN is surveying travel trade professionals to gain insight into agents’ relationship with the expedition cruise sector and revealed that Africa is the destination most respondents would like to see appear on expedition cruise itineraries, with 40% of respondents naming the continent as a favourite for new routes. It is followed by the Indian Ocean (35%) and Asia (27%).
