The newly-formed Cruise Lines International Association bodies in south-east and north Asia today released initial findings from the new Asia Cruise Trends Project: “Analysis, Assessment, Appreciation.” 

The work follows on from the 2013 Asia Cruise Association White Paper: “Information, Intelligence, Insights.” 

Both projects have been conducted by CHART Management Consultants, a global expert in cruise tourism and strategy.

The new project provides a comprehensive view of the cruise industry throughout Asia in 2015 with trends in deployment and capacity since 2013.

Detail on ports-of-call and destinations visited in all Asia destinations will be released shortly.

Finally, the effort intends to provide the first ever analysis of the size of 12 Asian passenger source markets with data consolidated directly from cruise operators.

Christine Duffy, president, CLIA said: “The cruise industry continues to grow rapidly in Asia and many cruise lines are deploying more capacity in the region, including some of the most modern cruise ships.

“CLIA decided to undertake an analysis of hard data on the size of Asia cruise source markets – the first of its kind – because cruise lines and many cruise industry stakeholders are keen to better understand the trends, source market size and the potential for growth in this vibrant and exciting region.”

Commenting on the findings released today Ann Sherry, chair of CLIA south-east Asia said: “The scale of cruising in Asia and its growth over these three short years is remarkable.

“Next year will see 26 cruise brands operate 52 ships in Asia, nine of which are year-round.

“In 2013 there were 802 Asia-Asia cruises, in 2015, we will see 981,” she continued.

“But the growth in capacity is even more impressive, driven by increasingly large and modern ships being deployed. 

“Last year, in 2013, there was capacity for 1.4 million guests to take Asia-Asia cruises, next year there will be room for 2.05 million, an annual growth of 19.5 percent.”

“On top of that, another 115,360 guests may transit through Asia on longer voyages, up 25 per cent per annum from the 73,616 capacity in 2013,” she observed.

Three participating CLIA Member cruise lines in Tier 1, Star Cruises, Costa Crociere, and Royal Caribbean, have over 100 sailings in 2015 and about 25 per cent each of total passenger capacity in Asia.

Participating CLIA Member cruise lines in Tier 2, Princess Cruises and Celebrity, operate 25 or more cruises and voyages.

The eight brands in Tier 3 operate nine or more annually, and Tier 4 offer eight sailings or less.

“It is insightful to see where the growth is occurring,” said Zinan Liu, chair, CLIA North Asia.

“The project reveals that days deployed in East Asia are growing 20.5 per cent annually and in south-east Asia ten per cent.

Deployment in south Asian destinations, which account for just six per cent of the total, is growing at 34 percent per annum.”