Danube Cruise Tourism as a Niche Product — An Overview of the Current Supply and Potential

Abstract

Tourism in the 21st century is being re-shaped by constant changes in consumer trends. The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, has rich potential for tourism over its whole course, and river cruises offer superb opportunities to explore. This study aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the most important characteristics of cruise tourism on the Danube. In our research, a literature review (LR) and content analysis (CA) were used to examine trends in the inland waterway cruise sector, which, despite the growing interest in the product, is still not deemed to be a part of mass tourism. Danube cruise tourism relies heavily on alternative (niche) tourism features, which satisfy both cultural and authentic tourism preferences. Currently, many elements of niche tourism are missing from the product supply, but, with a modest addition of such features, the demand for the product could increase and its economic performance in the period following the expected recession would be enhanced.