The role of security in Danube cruise tourism

Cruise tourism has witnessed dynamic development over the last twenty years, which was only disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This trend can be contrasted with the observed decline in freight transport, which has mitigated the low rate of waterway utilisation. The Danube-Main- Rhine is the most important route for European river cruise tourism. The volume of traffic in Danube cruise tourism doubled between 2002 and 2011, and has been growing steadily ever since. In 2020, the pandemic triggered a 90 % drop in passenger traffic, due mostly to the overwhelming share of guests belonging to the senior citizen category and many overseas passengers traveling to Europe by air. The steadily improving security situation in the region and European integration have been key to the development of Danube navigation. The changes introduced from 2019 and their implications underline the significance of the freedom of entry and movement between countries for the sector. The purpose of the paper is to substantiate this claim