Tourism
Credits: cliaasia.org
Asia Hits Another Record with 4.24
Million Cruise Passengers in 2018
A
sia’s cruise passenger source market hit a new high
in 2018 with 4.24 million people taking an ocean
cruise, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year, according to
data released today by Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA).
Asia continues to be the cruise industry’s third
largest market after North America and Europe, the
CLIA figures show, maintaining a 14.8 per cent share of
the total global ocean passenger volume (28.5 million) for 2018.
Most of the source markets in Asia saw year-on-year gains in 2018
except Mainland China and Malaysia. In particular, passenger volume
from Singapore, India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and
46
Joel Katz, Managing
Director Australasi
Credits: cliaasia.org
Vietnam had double-digit growth.
Mainland China retained its dominance as a source market, accounting
for 55.8% of all Asian passengers, though the Chinese market has been
going through a period of adjustment and saw a marginal 1.6% decline in
passengers.
The more measured increase in Asia’s passenger volume did not come
as a surprise as cruise ship capacity dipped in 2018 after years of rapid
expansion in this region. Asia’s slowdown in ship capacity is due to the
strong demand for cruise ships worldwide, and reduced short cruise
itinerary options ex-mainland China.
“In the next few years, cruising in Asia is expected to continue growing
in popularity with the arrival of new ships in 2019/2020 including from
Costa Cruises, Genting Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and
MSC Cruises,” said CLIA Managing Director for Australasia & Asia Joel Katz.
“We also see several Asian destinations building new infrastructure to
support cruise development,” he said. “Consumer interest in cruise has
also been rising as Asian travellers discover the ease, relaxation and value
of a cruise vacation.”
The above figures were released as part of the 2018 official global cruise
industry numbers reported by CLIA. A detailed cruise report on the Asia
source market will follow.
https://cliaasia.org/