Europe's Leading Cruise Destination

Press information
October 2006

Copenhagen scores a hat trick! Yet another travel industry Oscar awarded to Cruise Copenhagen.

World Travel Awards recently voted Copenhagen as Europe's premier cruise destination for the third year in a row. When this year's season ended on the 9^th October, it was again with a new record number of cruise tourists.

This year, about 170,000 representatives from the international travel industry voted on which destinations, hotels, airlines, etc. should win the coveted travel industry’s Oscar, World Travel Awards. And, once again, it was Copenhagen that ran away with this year's award as Europe's Leading Cruise Destination.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 and is considered the travel industry's Oscar. The award has a great significance for Copenhagen because it gives the city the international travel industry's seal of approval. During the past 5-10 years, Copenhagen has developed its cruise product and infrastructure, and directly targets its international marketing of the city as a cruise destination. This has come about through a close partnership between Wonderful Copenhagen and Cruise Copenhagen Network, a network of the city's cruise-related businesses.

Ole Andersen, sales and marketing director of Wonderful Copenhagen says, "To receive the award as Europe's best cruise destination for the third year running is a pleasure for us and our partners at Cruise Copenhagen Network. It is an honour that the World Travel Awards are bestowed by the industry. Tougher and better-qualified critics would be hard to find. In addition, it is an acknowledgement of Copenhagen's strategic efforts to strengthen the position of Copenhagen and the Baltic region in the international cruise industry. Moreover, Wonderful Copenhagen has initiated the Cruise Baltic Project which brings together 19 destinations, 32 partners and 10 countries in the Baltic region to concentrate marketing efforts and further development of ports and destinations."

The chairman of Cruise Copenhagen Network and General Manager Copenhagen Malmö Port, Per Schmidt comments on the 2006 cruise season. "When this year's season ended on the 9^th October, Copenhagen had over 400,000 visits by cruise tourists. That's 10% more than in 2005. The total number of ships that called at the port is unchanged from last year (280 port calls), but the increase in the number of visitors is due to the fact that now there are larger ships with more passengers calling at the Copenhagen port."

In addition, the share of turnarounds in Copenhagen's harbour has increased 20% over the last year. Turnaround is when passengers start or end their cruise in Copenhagen. That generates more hotel stays and more sales to the city.

In 2005, there were 180,000 hotel overnight stays related to cruise tourism in Copenhagen. This number has increased in 2006 by 18% with a total for the year of 215,000 overnight stays at the city's hotels that are related to cruise tourism.

Cruise tourism in Copenhagen generates a total turnover of approximately 700 million kroner per year for the city.



Press releases Cruise Season 2008: New companies and larger ships Photos Contact Cruise Copenhagen > Cruise Media > Press releases > Europe's Leading Cruise Destination Europe's Leading Cruise Destination Press information October 2006 Copenhagen scores a hat trick! Yet another travel industry Oscar awarded to Cruise Copenhagen. World Travel Awards recently voted Copenhagen as Europe's premier cruise destination for the third year in a row. When this year's season ended on the 9^th October, it was again with a new record number of cruise tourists. This year, about 170,000 representatives from the international travel industry voted on which destinations, hotels, airlines, etc. should win the coveted travel industry’s Oscar, World Travel Awards. And, once again, it was Copenhagen that ran away with this year's award as Europe's Leading Cruise Destination. World Travel Awards was established in 1993 and is considered the travel industry's Oscar. The award has a great significance for Copenhagen because it gives the city the international travel industry's seal of approval. During the past 5-10 years, Copenhagen has developed its cruise product and infrastructure, and directly targets its international marketing of the city as a cruise destination. This has come about through a close partnership between Wonderful Copenhagen and Cruise Copenhagen Network, a network of the city's cruise-related businesses. Ole Andersen, sales and marketing director of Wonderful Copenhagen says, "To receive the award as Europe's best cruise destination for the third year running is a pleasure for us and our partners at Cruise Copenhagen Network. It is an honour that the World Travel Awards are bestowed by the industry. Tougher and better-qualified critics would be hard to find. In addition, it is an acknowledgement of Copenhagen's strategic efforts to strengthen the position of Copenhagen and the Baltic region in the international cruise industry. Moreover, Wonderful Copenhagen has initiated the Cruise Baltic Project which brings together 19 destinations, 32 partners and 10 countries in the Baltic region to concentrate marketing efforts and further development of ports and destinations." The chairman of Cruise Copenhagen Network and General Manager Copenhagen Malmö Port, Per Schmidt comments on the 2006 cruise season. "When this year's season ended on the 9^th October, Copenhagen had over 400,000 visits by cruise tourists. That's 10% more than in 2005. The total number of ships that called at the port is unchanged from last year (280 port calls), but the increase in the number of visitors is due to the fact that now there are larger ships with more passengers calling at the Copenhagen port." In addition, the share of turnarounds in Copenhagen's harbour has increased 20% over the last year. Turnaround is when passengers start or end their cruise in Copenhagen. That generates more hotel stays and more sales to the city. In 2005, there were 180,000 hotel overnight stays related to cruise tourism in Copenhagen. This number has increased in 2006 by 18% with a total for the year of 215,000 overnight stays at the city's hotels that are related to cruise tourism. Cruise tourism in Copenhagen generates a total turnover of approximately 700 million kroner per year for the city.