Inland Water Passenger Transport Market Report 2026

The inland water passenger transport market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2.13 billion in 2025 to $2.36 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of tourism along rivers and lakes, growth of urban waterfront development, availability of inland navigable waterways, rising commuter water transport usage, investments in passenger vessel fleets.

The inland water passenger transport market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.64 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable urban mobility solutions, expansion of inland water tourism, rising adoption of electric and hybrid passenger vessels, integration with smart city transport systems, increasing government support for inland passenger transport. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for inland cruise and ferry services, expansion of urban water shuttle networks, increasing focus on passenger comfort and safety, rising adoption of energy-efficient passenger vessels, development of integrated water transit systems.

The growing tourism sector is anticipated to drive the expansion of the inland water passenger transportation market in the coming years. Tourism involves spending time away from home for recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment, while utilizing commercially provided services. The tourism industry is expanding due to higher disposable incomes and greater travel affordability. Inland water passenger transportation offers access to remote locations that are difficult to reach by road or air. This facilitates tourism in such areas and provides visitors with distinctive experiences. For example, in July 2025, Statistics Canada, a Canada-based central government agency, reported that total tourism revenue in Canada increased by approximately 3.5% in 2024 compared with 2023, reaching around $104.4 billion. Therefore, the growing tourism industry is supporting the growth of the inland water passenger transportation market.

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 are 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, Pearl Seas Cruises, Deccan Odyssey, Belmond River Cruises, Victoria Cruises, Mekong Princess, Lotus Cruises, Aqua Expeditions, Riviera Travel.

Western Europe was the largest region in the a inland water passenger transport market in 2025. 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, South East Asia, 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, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

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