The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen connections between the expedition cruise and adventure travel sectors, creating new opportunities for members while supporting responsible industry growth.
Recent market forecasts predict adventure tourism will exceed £1.5 trillion by the early 2030s, while expedition cruising continues to grow. ECN's 2025–2026 Insights Report found that around 75% of its travel agent members expect expedition cruise bookings to increase by at least 10%, with particularly strong demand for polar voyages. Together, ATTA and ECN aim to help guide this growth responsibly.
The partnership will see both organisations share expertise, research and industry knowledge while creating opportunities for collaboration. ECN members will gain access to ATTA's global network of adventure travel businesses, helping to develop new partnerships, enhance itineraries and deliver richer travel experiences. ATTA members will, in turn, benefit from the specialist expertise of expedition cruise operators, advisors and suppliers.
"Expedition cruising has always been a natural part of the adventure travel landscape, and this partnership reflects our shared commitment to education, collaboration and responsible growth," said Akvile Marozaite, CEO and co-founder of ECN.
ATTA CEO Shannon Stowell added: "We are thrilled to work with the Expedition Cruise Network. Their commitment to responsibility in expedition cruising aligns closely with our values, and we look forward to supporting each other in the coming year and beyond."
Responsible tourism will be central to the partnership, with both organisations committed to sharing best practice and encouraging high sustainability standards across their memberships.
Plans include joint events, educational initiatives, shared research, and industry insights designed to benefit members while reinforcing the place of expedition cruising within the global adventure travel sector. Further details of the collaboration will be announced.
