As the largest cruise operator in the UK, we’re extremely proud of the significant contribution our organisation is making to the UK economy.
Earlier this year, we published our first Economic Impact Report in the UK. The research, commissioned independently from WPI Economics, is unique because it uses data from across the entire UK-based operations of Carnival Corporation in 2024 and 2025, and reflects the critical contribution of cruise, and Carnival UK in particular, to our local, regional, and national economy and society.
The economic benefit of cruise goes far beyond our ships. It reaches local growers, logistics partners, and travel agents up and down the country, supporting jobs, boosting core skills, and strengthening communities nationwide.
The research showed that Carnival is projected to contribute more than £2.5 billion to the overall UK economy over the next five years and illustrates that each time our guests take a cruise they are supporting the UK economy.
Carnival UK & P&O Cruises President, Paul Ludlow, said:
“We are extremely proud that our organisation will be contributing over £2.5 billion to the overall UK economy over the next five years.
This is particularly important given our impact in the Solent where we are the largest private sector employer in Southampton, especially at a time when economic growth is of utmost importance to the country.”
Since the report’s publication, Paul has hosted a series of VIP briefing events with hundreds of important stakeholders across our industry, and the feedback has been fantastic.
In Southampton, with the Lord Mayor of Southampton in attendance, we welcomed Associated British Ports, Southampton University, Southampton City Council, Southampton Airport, and Southampton Football Club, as well as local businesses including many of our valued local suppliers. And in London we hosted Government officials from the Departments of Transport, Tourism, and the Home Office, as well as tourism bodies Visit Britain and ABTA.
Most recently, we held a VIP reception in Parliament supported by Tourism Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, and attended by Members of Parliament Darren Paffey for Southampton Itchen, Paul Holmes for Hamble Valley, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes for Romsey and Southampton North, and Dame Caroline Dinenage for Gosport, together with many of our strategic suppliers based in their constituencies.
During the reception, guests heard directly from supplier of sustainably sourced fine English rainbow trout, Hugo Hardman at ChalkStream in Romsey, who shared his experience working with Carnival UK and how our industry has helped his business to grow and thrive.
Tourism Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, said:
“The UK Government has set out its ambitions to welcome 50 million international visitors per year by 2030. This independent report uncovers the vital role the cruise sector will play in supporting this ambition and the sector’s widespread contribution towards the local, regional, and national economy, as well as opening up the UK to international visitors – in often hard-to-reach destinations unserved by other forms of tourism.
I’d like to thank Carnival UK for presenting these findings and for its valuable presence in the UK.”
These events have highlighted that through closer collaboration with our valued stakeholders we can accelerate our shared ambitions: supporting the growth of cruise in Southampton and attracting more visitors to the UK.
Find out more about our economic impact and read the full report here.