Trademark case

Cruise

Why cruise tourism is good for Denmark and the ports 

  • Cruise guests contribute DKK 1.25 billion annually to Denmark's economy – primarily to the hotel and retail industries.
  • It created around 2,400 jobs in Denmark in 2019, and we need those jobs.
  • For ports, cruise ships are an excellent business, but it varies from port to port how much of the revenue comes from cruise ships.
  • Tourists, including from cruise ships, help create life and revenue in the local business community, for example in shops, cafés and at attractions.

About industry developments

  • Over the last 10 years, the number of cruise ships calling at Danish ports has increased by 42%.
  • CMP is the largest cruise destination in Denmark with approx. 389 calls distributed in Copenhagen, Malmö and Visby in 2023
  • CMP is the 10th largest cruise destination in Europe and the port is a turn-around port, which means that passengers are changed in Copenhagen because the port is close to the airport and the port terminal is modern and designed so that it is easy to change passengers.
  • The ports outside Copenhagen are also experiencing growth in the cruise business. In 2022, the Port of Aarhus became Denmark's second largest cruise port, with 66 cruise ship calls over the year. The number of cruise calls in Aarhus has thus more than doubled since 2019, when the number was 32. The Port of Skagen has also experienced significant growth, with 18 more calls in 2023 than in 2019.

Source: Statistics Denmark, SKIB35

Economic Benefits

Cruises are often criticized for not contributing to the economy of cruise destinations. This is a misconception that is fortunately easy to disprove. The cruise lines and their over 1.1 million annual guests contribute over 1.25 billion kroner to Denmark every year. Each cruise guest in Denmark thus contributes over 1000 kroner, which mainly goes to the retail and hotel industry. This created approximately 2400 jobs in Denmark in 2019. There are no figures on how many Danish citizens go on a cruise from Danish ports, but in total approximately 45,000 Danes travel on a cruise annually.

Environment and Climate

The cruise industry, like all others in the transportation industry, contributes to the emission of both greenhouse gases and harmful particles. Cruises constitute 0.1% of the commercial fleet and the cruise industry association has announced that they want a 40% CO2 reduction by 2030.

Cruise ships in port emit particles that are harmful to health, such as NOX and SO2. However, not to a greater extent than it is still “healthier” to stay on Langelinje than on, for example, HC Andersens Boulevard in Copenhagen. Both the cruise ships and Danish Ports want to contribute to a good and healthy urban environment, and strive to find the best solutions for this.

Shore power and cruise ships

35% of cruise ships can take shore power, but only 20 ports worldwide are capable of supplying shore power solutions to larger cruise ships.

In addition, cruise facilities are only used during the summer months and the number of ships can vary from year to year.

Despite great efforts, no port in Europe has yet made a business case for shore power for cruise ships that is financially sustainable.

The two plants established in Germany and Norway have been established with very large public support from the EU in particular. Furthermore, the plants that are under way in Germany and Norway, among others, are also being established with public support from foundations and national, regional and local authorities.

Although it is not a good business case right now, the development potential is great, and progress is necessary. In that way, it is not unlike the rapid development that has occurred in the wind turbine market over the past 20 years.