CLIA delves into Asian waters

CLIA delves into Asian waters
By admin


The newly-formed Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) bodies in Southeast and North Asia have released some initial findings from the recent Asia Cruise Trends Project: Analysis, Assessment, Appreciation.

The work comes off the back of the 2013 Asia Cruise Association White Paper, with both projects conducted by CHART Management Consultants.

The new project dives deep into the cruise industry throughout Asia in 2015, with trends in deployment and capacity showing strength since 2013.

Various details pertaining to ports-of-call and destinations visited throughout Asia are set to be released at a future date, with the overall efforts of the project to provide the first ever analysis of the size of 12 Asian passengers source markets based on data coming directly from cruise operators.

CLIA’s CEO and president Christine Duffy said the Asian cruise industry is making waves, deploying more capacity to the region, including some of the most modern cruise ships.

“CLIA decided to undertake an analysis of hard data on the size of Asia cruise source markets – the first of its kind – because cruise lines and many cruise industry stakeholders are keen to better understand the trends, source market size and the potential for growth in this vibrant and exciting region,” she said.

Commenting on the findings, CLIA Southeast Asia chair Ann Sherry said the scale of cruising in Asia and its growth over these three short years is remarkable, with next year gearing up for 26 cruise brands operating 52 ships in Asia.

“In 2013 there were 802 Asia-Asia cruises, in 2015, we will see 981,” she continued. “But the growth in capacity is even more impressive, driven by increasingly large and modern ships being deployed.”

Last year, in 2013, there was capacity for 1.4 million guests to take Asia-Asia cruises, while next year the region will be making room for 2.05 million, an annual growth of 19.5%.

Add to that the extra 115,360 guests that may transit through Asia on longer voyages, and it is clear that the cruise industry in Asia is not showing any signs of slowing.

“It is insightful to see where the growth is occurring,” CLIA North Asia’s chair Dr. Zinan Lui said.

“The project reveals that days deployed in East Asia are growing 20.5 percent annually and in Southeast Asia 10 percent. Deployment in South Asian destinations, which account for just 6 percent of the total, is growing at 34 percent per annum.”

“There are certainly many opportunities for international guests to cruise Asia that suit their travel patterns,” CHART principal Ted Blamey commented.

“There are 162 cruises between 7 and 14 days offered in 2015, and 27 cruises longer than that. Asia has something for everyone, even though much of the activity is focused on the short-vacation local market.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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