SOUTHAMPTON'S economy is set to receive a massive boost following the decision to allow international cruises to resume next week.

Southampton has grown into Europe's busiest cruise port, with millions of passengers starting and finishing their journey in the city every year.

The arrival of each ship pumps an estimated £2.7m into the local economy, helping the industry to support 14,000 jobs in the Solent area.

Many vessels have sat idle since the start of the pandemic 16 months ago. Domestic cruises were allowed to restart in May but international voyages continued to be banned.

Now operators are celebrating a long-awaited return to normality following the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.

It comes just weeks after Southampton's new Horizon Cruise Terminal, which represents a £55m investment in the port, welcomed its first passengers.

Ross McNally, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber, which supports hundreds of businesses in the county, said: “Many families in the region will breathe a deep sigh of relief when they see cruise ships back on Southampton Water."

Giles Semper, executive director of GO!Southampton, added: "It’s huge news.

"The business is core to our local economy, bringing significant numbers of passengers and crew to the city, filling our hotel rooms and fuelling the retail and leisure sectors.

"It really does feel as if things are getting back to normal.

"We admire the efforts Carnival and other companies have made to kick-start the return of cruise, starting with domestic-only journeys. After the wretched time they've had to endure they richly deserve the reopening that is now in prospect."

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, added: "'I've been lobbying government hard over the past few weeks to get cruising back to Southampton.

"I know from my discussions with the cruise companies that they will be safe and well organised.

"I'm delighted this is now happening - there is so much in Southampton tied up with cruises from supplying vessels to hospitality and the taxi trade; and of course there's a huge queue of people waiting to get back to cruise holidays once again."

Royston Smith, Tory MP for Southampton Itchen, also welcomed the resumption of international cruises.

He said: "This is fantastic news for the industry, particularly for the passengers, crew and staff and those in the supply chain who have waited 16 long months.

"We are exceptionally lucky to have such a successful industry here in Southampton and I would like to pay tribute to the industry itself.

"Without their successful UK cruises and their close work with government we may have had to wait far longer for this excellent news.”

The docks are run by Associated British Ports (ABP).

Alastair Welch, director of ABP Southampton, said: “This is welcome news not only for the millions of holidaymakers who usually start and finish their cruise in Southampton every year, but for the hundreds of businesses and thousands of staff who rely on the industry.

"It represents a further important step in the journey to normal operations for the cruise industry, and we are very happy to see it.”

Southampton's cruise terminals welcome about two million passengers a year.

Beneficiaries of the cruise industry include hotels, food suppliers, taxi drivers, baggage handlers, stewards, security and engineers.