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Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 5021 April 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€2.5bn

2019-2024 11.0 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

22,093

2019-2024 3.8 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

4,706

2019-2024 1.4 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XXX.Xm

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry analysis

Europe’s Inland Passenger Water Transport industry thrives thanks to the abundance of navigable waterways stretching across Europe's beautiful landscapes, enriching tourism experiences by providing unique voyages around some major destinations like Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France. Key drivers of demand are tourism and disposable income levels. Seasonal demand fluctuations and weather conditions also impact inland passenger water transport companies. However, water transport demand suffered greatly from the strict restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak. Revenue is expected to slump at a compound annual rate of 11% to €2.5 billion over the five years through 2024, including a 4% drop in 2024.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe key trends

Sustainable and luxury travel experiences are driving consumer demand.

 

The shift towards low-emission, inland water transport and unique, localised experiences is most notable in Europe where it's boosting revenue from premium-priced services.

Climate change disruptions impact river cruising operations.

 

Erratic weather patterns due to global warming are causing navigability issues in key European rivers, disrupting services, damaging vessels and negatively affecting revenue and customer satisfaction.

Eco-friendly vessels are the future of maritime transport.

 

The growing environmental consciousness is forcing transportation companies to invest more in green energy solutions that reduce carbon emissions, such as hybrid or electric-powered boats.

Technological advancements will enhance the water transport industry.

 

Using smart technology for increased operational efficiency and implementation of digital platforms for an improved customer experience will significantly enhance the passenger water transport business.

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Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 11.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €2.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Passenger water transport is fairly popular in Europe

  • Inland passenger water transport is well-established in Europe, with countries like Switzerland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden, France and the Netherlands leading the way. This is thanks to the large number and length of navigable rivers, lakes and other waterways, alongside developed infrastructures, including ports and harbours.

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Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

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Revenue

€2.5bn

2019-2024 11.0 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

22,093

2019-2024 3.8 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XXX.Xm

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 3.8 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Denmark +3.2%
  2. United Kingdom +2.8%
  3. Switzerland +1.8%
  4. Czechia 0.0%
  5. Bulgaria 0.0%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Russia -24.6%
  2. Sweden -18.5%
  3. Hungary -4.5%
  4. Greece -2.4%
  5. Germany -1.4%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Viking River Cruises UK Ltd
2,135.7
102.5
4.8
Phoenix Reisen GmbH
353.3
4.1
1.1
CroisiEurope SAS
215.0
10.5
4.9

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Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe in 2024?

The market size of the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe is €2.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 4,706 businesses in the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 11.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe is expected to grow.

What does the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe include?

Local water transport and Boat hire with a crew are part of the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry.

Which countries have the most businesses in the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe?

The European country with the most businesses in the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry is Italy.

How competitive is the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Inland Passenger Water Transport industry in Europe.

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Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators transport passengers on inland waters via rivers, canals, lakes, harbours and ports. Rented pleasure boats and yachts with crews are included in the industry.

Related Terms

Passenger VesselFerryPleasure BoatsNavigable Waterways

What's included in this industry?

Local water transportBoat hire with a crewLong-distance travel

Companies

Viking River Cruises UK LtdPhoenix Reisen GmbHCroisiEurope SAS

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

5021 - Inland passenger water transport in Europe

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Performance

Key Takeaways

Passenger water transport is fairly popular in Europe

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Revenue Highlights

Trends
  • Revenue
  • 2024 Revenue Growth
  • Revenue Volatility

Employment Highlights

Trends
  • Employees
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Employee

Business Highlights

Trends
  • Businesses
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Business

Profit Highlights

Trends
  • Total Profit
  • Profit Margin
  • Profit per Business

Current Performance

Charts
  • Revenue in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis

What's driving current industry performance in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?


Outlook

Analysis

What's driving the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry outlook?


Volatility

Analysis

What influences volatility in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

Life Cycle

Analysis

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Highlights

Trends
  • Largest Market
  • Product Innovation

Key Takeaways

Travellers over 55 are taking more relaxed and scenic river cruises. This is due to more disposable income, flexible schedules, and a receding need for fast-paced adventures, while they also contribute towards lessening seasonal disparities due to their off-season travels.

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Products and Services

Charts
  • Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis

How are the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry's products and services performing?

Analysis

What are innovations in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry's products and services?


Major Markets

Charts
  • Major Market Segmentation
Analysis

What influences demand in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?


International Trade

Highlights

  • Largest Importer
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Imports into Europe
  • Largest Exporter
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
  • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
  • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables

Value and annual change (%) included

  • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

Competitive Forces

Highlights

Trends
  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power

Key Takeaways

European inland passenger water transport is concentrated. Top operators win by offering high-quality services, unique routes and competitive pricing, which gives them a significant edge in competition for market share.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 10 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

Data Tables
  • Countries of operation for Viking River Cruises UK Ltd
  • Countries of operation for Phoenix Reisen GmbH
  • Countries of operation for CroisiEurope SAS
  • Countries of operation for A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH
  • Countries of operation for Collins River Enterprises Ltd
  • Countries of operation for Group Voyagers Inc
  • Countries of operation for Koln-Dusseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH
  • Countries of operation for Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe GmbH
  • Countries of operation for Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd
  • Countries of operation for Luftner Cruises GmbH

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Inland passenger water transport companies face stringent environmental rules. In Europe, regulations focusing on reducing environmental impact are heavily influencing the industry’s operations, promoting the adoption of greener technologies and pollution control measures.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

COVID-19 restrictions drastically reduced passenger numbers in 2020. The strict restrictions on travel heavily impact the tourism sector, leading to a significant decrease in revenue and rising operational costs, like wages.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Inland Passenger Water Transport in Europe industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.