Annual Chinese Cruise Passengers to Reach 4.5 Million by 2020

Having barely existed only a few years ago, the Chinese cruise market has expanded rapidly and is already seeing seven-figure annual passenger numbers. With the market having seen close to one million Chinese passengers in 2015 (a 40% year-on-year increase), Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) estimates that the annual total will reach 4.5 million by 2020.

If these predicted figures are reached, this would make the Chinese cruise market the world’s second largest, behind only the United States, which totals 11 million per year. Nonetheless, at current rates, the Chinese cruise market could undertake the U.S. to become the world’s first by 2030.

The Costa Group was the first group to invest in the Chinese offshore travel market in 2016. However, since then, several cruise companies have decided to adapt their products, with boats tailored for these specific customers. According to CLIA, aboard the “Norwegian Joy”, it is possible to find “high-class boutiques, multilingual staff, tailored menus with local and regional cuisine, cabin and high-tech amenities”. RCCL has also developed a number of popular local departures routes in China, including journeys starting in Shanghai and Tianjian.

In order to get closer to the Chinese market, European shipyards are starting to build cruise ships in China, where 60 ships were located in 2016. Italy’s Fincantieri started a partnership with the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and ordered in 2015 two passengers’ ships, that are expected to join the fleet in 2019 and 2020.

COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute provides expert insights into the worldwide developments of China’s outbound tourism market. As Chinese outbound tourists are travelling to a large range of destinations, our publications cover a number of regions, providing detailed insights and analysing visitor behaviour.

With COTRI’s insights you can forge a successful business strategy built upon in-depth market expertise, comprehensive qualitative analysis and future projections. The upcoming Spring 2017 Edition of the COTRI Market report features in-depth exploration of the developing trends in the field, supported by a wealth of qualitative and quantitative statistical research.

Source: Tourism Review

Picture: Flickr