Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released the 2016 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, showing that global cruise travel is continuing to grow and evolve at a record pace.

The industry shows no signs of slowing down, with nearly 24 million passengers forecast to sail in 2016, a dramatic increase from 15 million just 10 years prior (2006), or even 1.4 million when CLIA began tracking passengers in 1980.

CLIA also revealed that member cruise lines are scheduled to debut 27 new ocean, river and specialty ships in 2016 for a total investment of more than US$6.5 bn in new ocean vessels alone.

Travel agents are also experiencing a higher demand for cruise travel. Eight out of ten CLIA member travel agents stated they are expecting an increase in sales in 2016 over last year.

Cruising also generates a substantial positive economic impact globally. Cruise industry expenditures generated US$119.9bn in total output worldwide, supporting 939,232 full-time equivalent employees who earned US$39.3bn in income in 2014.