10 Jul, 2020 FCO announcement is major blow to British cruise industry, says GlobalData
Posted in Travel & TourismFollowing the news that the FCO advises against all cruise ship travel;
Ben Cordwell, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view of the impact on the industry:
“The FCO’s announcement comes at a time when there are no major cruise lines planning to sail imminently in the UK, meaning the statement will have little direct effect on cruise companies. However, the impact on customers could be devastating for the industry.
“According to GlobalData’s COVID-19 Recovery Survey, 78% of Brits are extremely or quite concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, a third (33%) said they would reduce international travel, even once the pandemic had eased. It is extremely likely that a large portion of the general public will take government advice extremely seriously post COVID-19. The FCO’s latest announcement could be enough for many travelers to cancel their cruises or avoid booking them in the future.
“After several months of little to no revenue, it is essential that cruise companies hit the ground running when voyages eventually return. The latest FCO announcement will do little to diminish concerns surrounding the safety of cruises and will increase worries that cruise companies will be unable to survive the mounting pressure caused by COVID-19.”