Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle
Sponsored By ALG
Sponsored By ALG
"

Agency Consortia Predict Growth in Asia Cruising

by Charlie Duerr / November 03, 2015

With the recent palpable growth in the Asian cruise market, companies are looking to capitalize and agents anticipate unique opportunities to grow their business.

While the region currently only has a 6% share of the cruise market, a recent Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) survey says that traveler interest in Asia has increased substantially in the past few years.

Major cruise lines like Carnival seem to be getting the hint. In recent months, the Doral, FL-based cruise giant said it will send two more ships to China in 2016.

Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises, both subsidiaries of Carnival Corp., each will add one ship to China next year, making Carnival Corp. the first cruise line to operate six ships in the country. And the company announced Michael Ungerer as its chief operations officer-share services for Carnival Asia, further confirming the company’s focus on its growth strategy in the region.

“With the sheer size of the market in China, we are seeing many travel companies put an emphasis in this market,” said Nicole Mazza, chief marketing officer at TRAVELSAVERS, a consortium in Oyster Bay, NY. “With the world spotlight on China, interest in Asia creates a great opportunity for travel agents and travelers.”

While a market share of 6% may look small on paper, the fact that Asia—China in particular—is experiencing substantial growth in the cruise segment is undeniable.

Between 2013 and 2015, the number of cruise ships deployed to Asia grew at a 10% compound annual rate, with the volume of cruises within and through Asia and passenger capacity in the region increasing 11% and 20%, respectively, according to a trend report from CLIA.

CLIA, which partnered with Chart Management Consultants (CHART) for the report, also found that China was a clear frontrunner in terms of the number of people from the country that are booking cruise trips.

China has added 480,00 more cruise travelers since 2012, a nearly 80% compound annual growth rate, the report found, and went on to highlight that of the 1.4 million cruise passengers from Asia in 2014, China accounted for nearly half of the regional passenger volume.

For those in the industry, the spike in the market isn’t a surprise or a fluke.

“We’ve been seeing this trend, especially with new builds being deployed to service the China market,” said Susan Gannon, senior director of marketing and development of cruise products at Ensemble Travel Group in New York, NY. “As a growth market it’s likely to continue.”

Michael Londregan, managing director, Asia-Pacific, at Virtuoso, a luxury consortium based in Fort Worth, TX, was equally bullish on the growing market.

“The Southeast Asia markets will be a powerhouse of global tourism for decades to come,” he said. “The fact that Virtuoso has now expanded membership in this region exemplifies that the Asia market is not only robust but diversified.”

That continuation of growth could also lead to increased interest in the region from North American travelers, who by and large haven’t jumped on board quite yet.

“I don't think Asia is a big market yet for North American cruisers, the cruise lines are in Asia for the Chinese market,” explains Mike Ertmer, business development manager at MAST Travel Network in Oakbrook, Ill. “But there is still potential to grow the market for cruisers from North America. The opportunity is to see more of Asia without taking a long circle Pacific cruise or a world cruise.”

Many industry professionals agree that there is significant opportunity to drum up interest in China and the Asian market in general among travelers not from the region.

“As more cruise lines create programs throughout Asia for the North American market, the destination becomes more accessible for more travelers,” said Gannon. “Past guests of a cruise line are always looking for something new and often feel more comfortable experiencing a new destination in a familiar way. More opportunities are now open to them.”

And if agents and other industry professionals take the time to educate themselves on the region and make the point of suggesting China and other Asian markets as potential destinations to their clients who are seeking new experiences, but may not have considered Asia on their own, the opportunity to boost sales and grow their business becomes increasingly realistic.

“The luxury cruise market has shown immediate response to Virtuoso partners and we expect that much of the additional cruise capacity coming on line will be targeted at the sophisticated Asia luxury clientele,” predicted Londregan.

Mazza, Gannon, and Ertmer all foresee similar opportunity to leverage the growing market.

“This is certainly an opportunity,” said Gannon, noting the potential to “develop new business, to grow sales and to upsell.”

Pic: 663highland

  1
  0
Related Articles
Asia is Open for Tourism, Here Is Where to Go
Are Low Cruise Prices Impacting Travel Advisors?
Cruise Lines & Sustainability: Updates from the Global Cruise Industry
Live from Seatrade: Resiliency, Partnerships & Unity Are Silver Linings of Pandemic
Oceania Adds More Solo Staterooms, Two New Tour Series
CDC Eliminates COVID-19 Advisory for Cruise Ship Travel
41% of Americans as Likely to Take a Cruise as Before the Pandemic
AAA Travel Selects Railbookers as Preferred Partner
Greece Set to Reopen to Cruise Ship Traffic on August 1
ASTA Calls on Air Canada to Change its Refund Policy

MOST VIEWED

  1. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  3. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  4. Government of Canada Updates Its Mexico Travel Advisory
  5. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  6. Here’s What the U.S. and Canada Are Saying About Travel and Crime in Mexico

MOST EMAILED

  1. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  3. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  4. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  5. Travelers Believe That Working With Advisors Is Only Way to Get a True Luxury Experience
  6. 9 Travel-Advisor Friendly Paris Boutique Hotels to Know About
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Explora Journeys
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=78f79d51-15c7-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

All About Culinary Immersion at Sea

Travel advisors can help their foodie clients enjoy true immersion experiences by booking them on culinary-focused cruises.

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
TV-Inspired Travel: Visit Wrexham, Sail with "Below Deck" Chef
TV-Inspired Travel: Visit Wrexham, Sail with "Below Deck" Chef

According to the Am Ex 2023 Global Travel Trends Report, 64% of travelers said they've been inspired to visit specific travel destinations after seeing them featured on TV shows.

Read...
Disney Cruise Line Will Open Inaugural Sailings to Lighthouse Point at End of March
Disney Cruise Line Will Open Inaugural Sailings to Lighthouse Point at End of March

Two sailings, one each on Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy, will be the first to visit Lighthouse Point in June 2024. 

Read...
Testing the Waters with Dori: The ASTA River Cruise Expo
Testing the Waters with Dori: The ASTA River Cruise Expo

No online training module or webinar can duplicate the education attendees got in just three days at the Expo.

Read...
Celestyal Cruises Reveals Details of New Ship
Celestyal Cruises Reveals Details of New Ship

The Greek cruise line's new ship will have more balconies and suites. 

Read...
Crystal Will Honor Guest Payments Lost When Crystal Cruises Went Bust
Crystal Will Honor Guest Payments Lost When Crystal Cruises Went Bust

Eligible guests who lost money under the previous Crystal Cruises will be able to apply for credits toward future cruises. 

Read...
Beetlejuice The Musical to Headline on Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship
Beetlejuice The Musical to Headline on Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship

Execs at NCL said his name three times and now he'll be onboard Viva when it launches this summer. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/BDz_-mzUmZA/0.jpg
Meet South Africa with Your Local Guides
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Well-Being Travel |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy