The projection came as part of the association’s 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report, which claimed that more than 75% of its members have already returned to service.
The annual report shows how the industry has "continued to resume responsibly", underscores the value of cruise tourism to local communities and national economies, and charts the industry’s progress towards achieving carbon neutrality.
According to the data, by 2027, the Clia ocean-going cruise line member fleet will reflect "significant advancements" in the cruise industry’s pursuit of a "cleaner, more efficient future".
It predicted it will have 26 vessels powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), 81% of its global capacity fitted with advanced water treatment systems and 174 cruise ships kitted out with shoreside power connectivity.
The report also highlighted the value of cruise tourists, and claimed every 24 cruisers creates one full-time equivalent job.
Cruise passengers reportedly spend an average of $750 USD per passenger in port cities over the course of a typical seven-day cruise.
When compared to 2019, the 2020 economic data illustrated the pandemic’s "far-reaching effects" on the wider cruise community and underscored the "importance of cruise tourism to economies around the world".
There were around six million passenger embarkations, 81% fewer than 2019, 576,000 cruise-supported jobs (-51%) and $63.4B total economic contribution (-59%).
Kelly Craighead, president and chief executive of Clia, said the report "provides an opportunity to reflect on how far our industry has come".
"While our focus on health and safety remains absolute, our industry is also leading the way in environmental sustainability and destination stewardship," she added.
"Coastal and maritime tourism is an important economic driver, and we continue to work in partnership with cruise destinations so that communities thrive from responsible tourism."
