You’ve probably heard recently that China’s cruise industry is booming. Indeed, in the past 5 years, its cruise industry has developed significantly in terms of policymaking, port construction, and the introduction of cruise ships, trips and services.
You’ve probably heard recently that China’s cruise industry is booming. Indeed, in the past 5 years, its cruise industry has developed significantly in terms of policymaking, port construction, and the introduction of cruise ships, trips and services.
China’s cruise industry was kick started in July 2006 when Costa Allegra became the first holiday cruise to dock at Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal. After 10 years, the number of outbound cruise passengers in the country topped 2 million for the first time in 2016, and is expected to reach 4.5 million by 2020, according to the annual report by China Cruise & Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA).
Chinese companies have also entered the game—HNA Group launched its first luxury cruise ship back in 2013. State-controlled operator Bohai Ferry entered the market in 2014. Ctrip and Royal Caribbean in turn set up a joint venture to launch the China-focused SkySea Cruise Line to court local tourists. The Chinese government emphasized it welcomes foreign shipyards, designers and suppliers to cooperate and form joint ventures with domestic companies.
According to the report, a total of 2.12 million Chinese citizens departed from China’s 10 major port cities, including Tianjin, Dalian, Yantai, Shanghai, Guanghzou and Haikou, to travel overseas last year, up 91 percent year-on-year.
With government help, ports are working hard to upgrade infrastructure for new tonnage and more ships. Wusongkou International Terminal in Shanghai now claims to be the biggest homeport for cruise liners in Asia and is among the top five globally.
Apart from these, the Shanghai government is dedicated to building Shanghai CSSC International Cruise Industrial Park, the first such park in China approved by the National Tourism Administration. The park will be both a cruise manufacturing base and cruise-themed amusement park.