China's first domestically produced cruise ship, Adora Magic City, embarks on its maiden commercial voyage from the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Shanghai on Jan 1, 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
International cruise companies are rekindling their faith in the Chinese market, embarking on voyages from home ports within Chinese mainland and augmenting their fleet presence in the region, according to a recent green book on China's cruise industry.
The newly published report unveils a comprehensive analysis of the international cruise sector's trajectory and sheds light on the burgeoning potential of the Chinese market. Noteworthy revelations from the report include the elongation of booking windows and a pronounced preference among Chinese cruise enthusiasts for extended journeys coupled with premium accommodations.
Of particular significance is China's stride in cruise ship development, with the nation both self-engineering and procuring eight cruise vessels, including illustrious names like Adora Magic City, Adora Mediterranea and Piano Land Cruise. Notably, the highly anticipated Adora Flora City, China's second domestically crafted large-scale cruise liner, is slated for trial operations by June 2026.
The debut of the first self-constructed cruise ship, Adora Magic City, valued at over 5 billion yuan ($686.5 million), has propelled China into the league of nations capable of manufacturing large cruise vessels, following in the footsteps of Italy, Germany, France and Finland. The report advocates for cost reduction through refining design and construction processes to enhance competitiveness in the global cruise market.
Against the backdrop of a thriving cruise industry, which contributed a staggering $138 billion to the global economy in 2023, North American cruise passengers accounted for over 50 percent of the total global cruise clientele. Meanwhile, the Port of Miami, the world's largest home port for cruise ships, welcomed a record-breaking 7.3 million tourists in 2023, underscoring the sector's robust growth and economic impact.
The European cruise economy has also witnessed a commendable upsurge, registering a 6.5 percent growth compared to 2019. In 2023, passengers spent an average of 660 euros ($692.67) at port cities, translating into substantial economic benefits capable of sustaining one full-time job for every 24 passengers.
Gu Yingjie contributed to this story.
