New study highlights Southeast Asia’s growing importance in the global cruise industry. Strong economic impact seen in jobs, GDP contribution, and tourism growth across the region.
Southeast Asia’s cruise tourism industry generated US$10 billion in total economic output in 2024, according to a new study conducted by Tourism Economics for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The findings were released on 15 April 2026 in Singapore and the United States.
The report marks the first comprehensive assessment of cruise tourism’s economic impact across Southeast Asia. It shows the region contributed 5% of global cruise industry output, despite accounting for only 2% of global passenger visits, which stood at 3.9 million in 2024.
Cruise tourism also contributed US$4.5 billion to Southeast Asia’s GDP and supported around 530,000 jobs across tourism, port services, and related sectors. Workers in the region earned a total of US$4.1 billion in wages, representing 7% of global cruise-related wages.
On average, each cruise passenger visit generated US$2,564 in economic output, which is 2.4 times higher than the global average. This highlights the strong spending power and value of cruise visitors to the region.
According to Jean Ng, the findings reflect Southeast Asia’s strong cruise tourism appeal. She noted that rising demand for diverse travel experiences and a growing middle class are key drivers of the sector’s growth. Singapore, as ASEAN’s lead coordinator for cruise development, will continue working with regional and global partners to strengthen the cruise network and deliver sustainable economic benefits.
Bud Darr highlighted that the study demonstrates Southeast Asia’s increasing role in driving global cruise industry growth. He added that the region is becoming an important source of jobs, economic activity, and travel experiences for millions of passengers worldwide.
The report also showed that Singapore and Malaysia together accounted for 70% of cruise passenger visits in the region. Singapore alone captured 48% of total visits, while Malaysia accounted for 22%.
Employment in the cruise sector is concentrated in Philippines and Indonesia, which together make up 85% of the region’s cruise-related workforce.
The study also found that 85% of cruise travellers rated their Southeast Asia experience positively, and 47% indicated they would return for land-based travel. This shows cruise tourism’s role in driving repeat visits and long-term tourism growth.
With strong economic contributions already in place, the report highlights further opportunities for Southeast Asian countries to invest in port infrastructure and enhance destination experiences. These improvements could help attract more cruise operators and increase the region’s share of the global cruise market.
The study supports CLIA’s global mission to promote sustainable cruise industry growth and provides data to guide investment decisions and future development across Southeast Asia.
Source: STB
