Nude tourism appears to be a growing industry, with more and more travellers opting to spend their next vacation naked.

A recent survey of US households earning US$50,000 or more, found that 17 per cent of respondents viewed a visit to a nude resort as extremely or very desirable, Fairfax media reported.

The results of the 'Portrait of the American Traveller Survey' of over 2,500 people found this reflected a 12 per cent increase over the year before.

In February next year, Carnival Freedom Cruise will set sail from Florida with a potential 2,974 naked passengers on board.

The trip, which is already 70 per cent booked, highlights the strength of the US nude tourism industry, which the American Association for Nude Recreation says generates around $440 million per year - up ten per cent on the last decade.

The organization's Susan Weaver says it’s about the whole experience.

“That whole joyous experience of the healthy human body is what we’re all about. And adult entertainment is not nude recreation,” Ms Weaver said.

Nancy Tiemann, owner of Bare Necessities, who is organising the cruise, said that when people were on vacation they would rather travel with like-minded people.