Inland Water Passenger Transport Market Report 2025

The inland water passenger transport market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.9 billion in 2024 to $2.13 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to infrastructure development, economic growth and urbanization, environmental considerations, government initiatives and policies, congestion alleviation.

The inland water passenger transport market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.27 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to modal shift for sustainable transportation, integrated transport systems, tourism industry growth, climate change mitigation strategies, technological innovations (excluding). Major trends in the forecast period include market liberalization and deregulation, technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, global economic trends, pandemic impacts and resilience.

The forecast of 11.3% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. Tariff hikes on imported marine-grade steel and engine components are likely to increase vessel maintenance and procurement costs, directly impacting the operational expenses of inland water passenger services. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The increasing use of boats for sightseeing services along inland waterways is anticipated to be a key driver for the inland waterway passenger transport market. Many scenic destinations, such as the Mine Bay Rock Carvings in New Zealand, Horizontal Falls in Australia, Agia Roumeli in Greece, and others, are only accessible through waterways, generating a higher demand for inland waterway passenger transport services. As reported by Voices navigables de France, the French navigation authority, sightseeing vessels in France carried 11 million passengers and employed 1,440 people. This highlights the growing trend of using boats on inland waterways for sightseeing, contributing to the expansion of the inland water passenger transport market.

The thriving tourism industry is expected to further drive the growth of the inland water passenger transportation market. Tourism involves spending time away from home for recreation and pleasure, often utilizing commercial services. Inland water passenger transportation offers access to remote destinations that may not be easily reachable by road or air transport. This accessibility helps promote tourism in such areas, providing visitors with unique experiences. For instance, data from the International Trade Administration indicates a significant increase in non-U.S. resident international visitor volume to the United States in July 2022, reaching 160.8% compared to July 2021 and reaching 67.6% of the pre-COVID level. The outbound travel volume from the United States also experienced a year-over-year increase of 63% in 2022. The flourishing tourism industry, marked by increased travel volumes, is a key factor propelling the growth of the inland water passenger transportation market.

Major companies in the inland water passenger transport market are innovating advanced technologies by investing in AI-powered autonomous boats. These vessels are equipped with artificial intelligence systems that enable them to navigate, control speed, and respond to environmental conditions without human intervention, thereby enhancing safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility while also reducing labor costs. For example, Roboat, a Netherlands-based company that develops autonomous navigation systems for inland waterway passenger transportation, received an investment of $594,385 (Euro 550,000) from LUMO Labs, a Netherlands-based venture capital firm, and SHIFT Invest, another investment company based in the Netherlands. Roboat focuses on creating AI-powered systems designed to function effectively in complex urban waterways with high traffic. This technology aims to improve the safety and sustainability of waterborne transport by automating navigation processes, which includes retrofitting existing vessels and designing new autonomous boats for various applications, such as passenger transport, goods delivery, and waste collection.

Major companies in the inland water passenger transport market are creating innovative services such as water taxi services, which offer on-demand transportation for passengers using small boats. These services enable efficient travel across rivers, lakes, and coastal areas while avoiding road traffic. Water taxis generally operate on flexible schedules and can be hailed from various docking points, providing a convenient alternative to traditional land-based transportation. For instance, in February 2023, Nayantara Shipping Pvt. Ltd., an India-based transportation company, launched a water taxi service from Mazgaon to Mandwa in the Mumbai region. This service features a high-speed catamaran named NAYAN XI, which can accommodate up to 200 passengers and is designed for comfortable travel, complete with air conditioning and multiple washrooms on board. The catamaran is powered by two 750 HP Volvo Penta high-speed engines, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of 22 knots, although it will operate at a cruising speed of 15 knots during its journeys. This service aims to alleviate road congestion and offer a scenic alternative for daily commuters in the Mumbai region.

In April 2023, AmaWaterways, a US-based cruise company specializing in inland water passenger transport, formed a partnership with Backroads. This collaboration aims to offer over 140 active river cruise departures for the 2023-2024 season, combining luxury river cruising with active biking excursions across various European rivers. Backroads is a travel company based in the United States.

Major companies operating in the inland water passenger transport market include American Cruise Lines, Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Emerald Waterways, CroisiEurope Cruises, A-ROSA River Cruises, Tauck River Cruises, Pandaw River Expeditions, Crystal River Cruises, Grand Circle Cruise Line, Victory Cruise Lines, Hebridean Island Cruises, Riviera Travel, Aqua Expeditions, Noble Caledonia, Pearl Seas Cruises, Lotus Cruises, Deccan Odyssey, Belmond River Cruises, Victoria Cruises, Mekong Princess.

Western Europe was the largest region in inland water passenger transport market in 2024. Asia-Pacific was the second largest region in the global inland water passenger transport market share. The regions covered in the inland water passenger transport market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the inland water passenger transport market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are having a considerable impact on the transport services sector by increasing the costs of vehicles, spare parts, and fuel - critical inputs frequently imported from tariff-affected regions. Freight operators, logistics companies, and public transportation providers are experiencing margin pressures as elevated equipment and maintenance expenses coincide with limited flexibility to pass these costs on to customers due to intense market competition. This climate of uncertainty has also led to delays in fleet upgrades and the adoption of greener, more energy-efficient vehicles, hindering progress toward sustainability objectives. In response, transport firms are enhancing route optimization, investing in fuel-efficient technologies, renegotiating supplier agreements, and adopting collaborative logistics strategies to share resources and cushion the financial impact of rising tariffs.

The inland water passenger transport market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides inland water passenger transport market statistics, including inland water passenger transport industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an inland water passenger transport market share, detailed inland water passenger transport market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the inland water passenger transport industry. This inland water passenger transport market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

Inland water passenger transportation involves carrying passengers and cargo on lakes, rivers, and intracoastal waterways using crafts with a capacity of at least 50 tons when loaded.

Passenger transport types in this market include canal, intercoastal, lake, river transportation, ship chartering, water shuttle, and water taxi services. It encompasses cruise ships, cargo-passenger ships, ferries, and other modes, serving applications in supply chains, distribution, and end-user services.

The inland water passenger transport market includes revenues earned by entities by providing navigation as well as drainage, irrigation, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.