The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maritime passenger traffic in the European Union

Abstract

Pomorskoputnički promet je grana pomorstva koja je vrlo uspješna, posebice kada je riječ o kružnim putovanjima. Međutim, pojava COVID-19 pandemije uzrokovala je brojne negativne utjecaje na cjelokupnu pomorsku industriju. Predviđanja su ukazivala da je pomorska industrija trebala biti u znatnom porastu 2020. godine, no neočekivanom pojavom pandemije ona se nisu ostvarila. Prema provedenim istraživanjima i dostupnim podatcima, industrija se nakon popuštanja epidemioloških mjera postepeno oporavlja, ali da bi promet prometovao intenzitetom kao nekada, luke i svi ostali sudionici bi trebali težiti za unaprijeđenjem cijelog pomorskog sustava. U ovom radu usporedit će se kretanje pomorskoputničkog prometa u odabranim zemljama Europske unije u razdoblju prije pandemije, tijekom pandemije i poslije pandemije. Posebno će se istaknuti promjene koje su vidljive u ponašanju putnika na kružnim putovanjima i u primjeni novih pomorskih tehnologija.Maritime passenger traffic is a branch of shipping that is very good, especially when it comes to successful cruises. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous negative impacts on the entire maritime industry. Predictions indicated that the maritime industry would grow significantly in 2020, but not a single unexpected pandemic has materialized. According to the conducted research and the available data, the industry is gradually recovering after the release of epidemiological measures, but in order for traffic to flow as intensively as before, ports and all other participants should strive to improve the entire maritime system. This paper will compare the movement of maritime passenger traffic in selected countries of the European Union in the period before the pandemic, during the pandemic and after the pandemic. The changes that are visible in the behavior of passengers on cruises through maritime technologies will be highlighted in particular