Asia is the world’s fastest growing source of cruise passengers, with a new Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) report showing that the region experienced a 24% jump in numbers last year.
According to CLIA’s Asia Cruise Trends study, the Asian cruise industry is growing at a record pace, with 2.08 million travellers from the region taking an ocean cruise in 2015. And almost half of these passengers are from mainland China, with the total of 986,000 cruise passengers in 2015 marking a 40% year-on-year increase.
This figure makes China the world’s fastest-growing source nation for cruise passengers, along way clear of second place Australia (+14.6%).
The report also confirms the continued rise in the number of sailings in the region, with 1,560 cruises scheduled for 2016, up 43% compared to last year.
“The cruise industry has been nimble and responded quickly to the demand for cruise travel in Asia by delivering cruise ships with amenities and experiences tailored to Asian travellers,” CLIA’s president & CEO, Cindy D’Aoust. “Asian cruise travel has also become an enticing way for international guests to visit Asia’s fascinating destinations in a comfortable and convenient way.”
This year, 60 ocean-going cruise ships will sail in Asia, 15% more than in 2015. Of these, 14 will operate year-round while another 12 have extended deployments in Asia. This will increase the total capacity of cruise ships in Asia by 51%, to approximately 3.2m passenger berths in 2016.
Shorter cruises continue to be preferred by Asian passengers; in 2015, half of the cruises taken in Asia were six nights or less – a figure that rises to 83% among cruises originating in China. But the region’s average cruise duration has increased slightly, from 5.2 nights in 2014 to 5.3 nights in 2015.
Japan is again the biggest cruise destination in Asia, with 1,526 port calls in 2016, followed by China (850), South Korea (745), Vietnam (466) Malaysia (422) and Singapore (391). The most visited port in 2016 will be South Korea’s Jeju Island (460 calls), followed by Shanghai (437), Singapore (391) and Fukuoka (258).
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