Expert predicts huge growth in Chinese cruising Australasia/Pacific

Blamey, who is much in demand as a keynote speaker at cruise industry events like this month’s Australian Cruise Association 2016, produced the Asia Cruise Trends study for Cruise Lines International Association where he estimated the China source market will grow to about 4.5m by 2020.

 

He said 986,000 mainland Chinese cruised last year and that just over 1,000 of these passengers, or 0.1%, came to the Australasia/Pacific region.  

 

Blamey said it is reasonable to project the figure will grow to around 5,800 next year and to more than 90,000 by 2020.

 

He said Australia should not forget the Asian markets of Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. They delivered 6,000 cruise passengers to the region last year and healthy growth is predicted for all these markets. 

 

CLIA president and ceo Cindy D’Aoust told delegates at Australasia’s third annual Cruise360 in Sydney last week they should  welcome the opportunities the growth of the Asian market presents for the region.