Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released their annual ‘Asia Cruise Trends’ report, revealing that most Asian source markets registering double-digit year-on-year growth. The number of Asian passengers in 2017 grew at an impressive rate, with increases in passenger volume across most of the Asia markets compared to 2016. 2018’s scheduled cruise calls are slightly down from the planned calls in 2017 but are maintaining an upward 5-year trend.
After another year of exceptional growth which saw Asia outperform other established markets, it’s clear that cruising is continuing to grow in popularity as cruise lines continue to deploy significant capacity in the region, including brand new, large cruise ships purpose-built for Asian consumers. 2018 is expected to deliver another year of growth as Asian travellers increasingly recognise cruising as an easy, relaxing, and great value for money way to travel,
…said Joel Katz Managing Director for CLIA Australasia & Asia.
Highlights from 2018 Asia Cruise Trends
–> More Asian passengers in 2017
- Asian sourced ocean cruise passenger numbers hit another record high in 2017 with 4.052M taking an ocean cruise (up 20.6%).
- Asia accounted for about 15% of total global ocean passenger volume in 2017.
- Mainland China maintained its dominance as a key source market, accounting for almost 60% of all Asian passengers.
- Most of the Asian markets registered double-digit year-on-year growth.
- Between 2012 and 2017, Asian cruise passengers grew from 775,000 to nearly 4.052M, almost a 40% compound annual growth rate.
–> More variety of ship products in Asian waters in 2018
- 2018 will see 38 cruise brands deployed and more ships in Asian waters.
- There will be a broader variety of cruise products with significant increases in large (2,000 to 3,500 passengers) as well as small upscale ships deployed in Asia.
- 2018’s scheduled cruise calls are slightly down from the planned calls in 2017, but are maintaining an upward 5-year trend.
- In 2013, only 43 ships cruised in Asia, marking an 80% growth since 2013.
–> South East Asia ports expected to see significant growth
- South East Asia will see more than 20% increase in port calls in 2018.
- In total there will be over 7,100 port calls in Asia with Japan, mainland China, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia expected to receive the most number of cruises.
- East Asia accounts for 60% of the port calls, followed by South East Asia (36%) and the remaining in South Asia (4%).
- Asian travellers prefer shorter cruises within Asia – Asian travellers continue to predominantly take cruises within the region (91%) with shorter sailings of 4 to 6 nights by far the most popular.
- With a weighted average age of 44.6 years old, cruise passengers from Asia are one of the younger cruise travelers globally.
–> Between 2013 and 2018, cruise capacity has increased across all metrics
- The number of ships deployed in Asia grew 81 percent since 2013
- Similarly, the number of cruises and voyages within and through Asia increased at a 19% CAGR
- Operating days expanded 143 percent since 2013.
- Passenger capacity almost tripled from 1.51M passengers in 2013 to 4.26M passengers in 2018
- There will be 7,169 Asian cruise calls in 2018, a marginal decrease from 7,196 calls last year.
- Destination markets seeing the most calls are Japan (2,601), Mainland China (1,012), and Thailand (581) in 2018.
- Top ports in the region are Shanghai (416), Singapore (374), Taipei (322), and Hong Kong (249).
The Asia Cruise Trends project, now it’s fourth year, is commissioned by CLIA in collaboration with Chart Management Consultants.
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