• Asia Cruise Industry continues to grow

    August 19, 2016
    Asia Cruise Industry continues to grow

    Bangkok : Asia has been confirmed as the world’s fastest growing source of cruise passengers, with a new Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) report showing the region experienced an unprecedented 24% increase in passenger numbers last year.

    According to CLIA’s Asia Cruise Trends study, the cruise industry in Asia is growing at a record pace, with 2.08 million people from the region taking an ocean cruise in 2015.

    The report shows that China accounted for almost half the region’s cruise passengers, with 986,000 passengers from mainland China taking a cruise in 2015, up 40% from 703,000 in 2014. This figure makes China the world’s fastest growing source nation for cruise passengers in 2015, with other leading source markets like Hong Kong (126,800), India (125,900), Japan (179,900), Singapore (182,700) and Taiwan (228,700).

    The report also confirms the continued growth in sailings in the region with 1560 sailings scheduled for 2016, up 43% on 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,” said CLIA President and 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.”

    CLIA Asia Secretary General, David Goh, said, “Cruise tourism in Asia has also been gaining increasing traction with double-digit growth rates as more consumers in the region are exploring it as an alternative choice of vacation. China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam are the top five destinations in Asia, experiencing more than 4,000 calls in total.”

    Other key findings from the Asia Cruise Trends report include:

    Cruise Ships – This year, 60 ocean cruise ships will sail in Asia versus 43 ships in 2013, 15% more ships than the 52 operating in 2015. Of the ships sailing this year, 14 operate year-round while another 12 have extended deployments in Asia.

    More Cruises – There has been a significant increase in the number of days cruise ships are in operation, from 4307 operating days in 2013 to 7918 in 2016.

    Capacity Boost – The capacity to carry passengers continues to grow, surging by 54% in 2016. As a result, the overall passenger capacity on ocean cruise ships will reach 3.2 million in 2016.

    Chinese Passengers – From 2012 to 2015, the number of Chinese passengers grew at an annual compounded rate of 66%.

    Shorter Cruises – Passengers from the region continue to prefer shorter ocean cruise lengths. In 2015, almost 30% of passengers continued to choose cruises two to three nights in length and half chose four to six night cruises (83% of those originating in China). Almost a fifth of passengers chose extended cruises of seven to 13 nights. As a result, the average length of cruises offered in the region has increased slightly from 5.2 nights in 2014 to 5.3 nights in 2015.

     Destinations – Cruising in the region includes more than 204 destinations across 17 countries, making travelling by cruise ship one of the easiest ways to see multiple destinations throughout Asia. While the introduction of new ports throughout Asia is great for travellers, it is also great for local economies, bringing more visitors to Asian destinations.

     Japan is again the biggest destination country with 1526 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 Jeju Island, South Korea (460 calls), closely followed by Shanghai (437), Singapore (391) and Fukuoka (258).

    Source: Asia Travel Tips , Aug. 2016

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      Bangkok named Asia’s best

      holiday destination for 2025

      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

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      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

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      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

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      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

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      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

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      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)