This executive summary exhibits the findings on the cruise industry, of both the secondary study (P1.4) and the primary survey (P2.3 & P2.6) carried out in the pilot destination of Corfu. The analysis covers the international, European, Mediterranean and national level, while the primary research in Corfu allows for empirical documentation of the economic, social, environmental and intergovernmental dimensions of cruise tourism at the destination level.

Cruising is one of the fastest-growing forms of international tourism, with global passenger traffic amounting to 34.6 million passengers in 2024 and projected to exceed 37.7 million in 2025. Despite the severe disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector demonstrated remarkable resilience, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in many markets. This dynamic recovery confirms the maintained attractiveness of the touristic “product”, while at the same time highlighting the challenges related to sustainability, gove nance and social acceptance at the host destinations.