Costa Victoria |
This year, a total of 62 international cruise liners, including the Voyager of the Seas from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, will arrive at Shanghai's specialized port for luxury cruise ships, which opened in October last year, and more than 150 will arrive in 2013, according to figures from the city's entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau.
It is apparent that the number of cruise ships in China is rising, and they are becoming more luxurious, tourism industry analysts say. Global players in the cruise line sector are focusing on the country.
"The Chinese cities, especially Shanghai, can never be overlooked. Top groups in the trade all have high hopes for the potential of the market," said Cheng Juehao, deputy director of the research institute of cruise economy under the Shanghai International Shipping Institute.
Shanghai International Cruise Port |
Cruise liners with a high passenger capacity and shipping tonnage will increasingly select Chinese harbors to be their homeports this year now that the world's four leading cruise companies have established China-based routes.
"A cruise market in the country has taken shape due to the emergence of groups with considerably high incomes and a mature concept of cruise holidays in coastal areas," said Zheng Weihang, executive vice-president of CCYIA.
China is at the primary stage of its cruise economy. In this phase, it is building homeports to provide comprehensive services, including berthing, replenishment and maintenance for large cruise liners, said experts.
China is at the primary stage of its cruise economy. In this phase, it is building homeports to provide comprehensive services, including berthing, replenishment and maintenance for large cruise liners, said experts.
Several cities, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Xiamen and Qingdao, have been equipped with international homeports to attract major cruise liners to set up shop there for the long term.
Tianjin, a center for cruise travel in North China, will receive nearly 40 luxury cruise liners this year and will establish new routes to Thailand and Singapore in addition to the existing ones to Japan and Korea.
Wang Hong |
When the cruise economy is more mature, it is important for the country to have its own cruise companies, which are registered and operated on the mainland, experts say.
"Cruise liners have brought new concepts and patterns of consumption to China, but they won't produce obvious benefits if we are only involved in selling tickets and ship supplies," Cheng said. Chinese enterprises and government agencies started to consider establishing cruise companies two years ago, he said, but they are cautious because of the huge investments required.
The country is expected to have its own cruise companies in three to five years, Cheng estimated. "The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is encouraging the research and development of cruise ship building technologies
No comments:
Post a Comment