Ports & destinations

Number of cruise visitors to Japan doubled in 2014

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 05 February 2015 05 February 2015

The number of cruise tourists arriving in Japan in 2014 was over 400,000, that is about twice the number of 2013, according to figures released by the country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Alan Lam reports.

Japanese ports received a total of 1,203 cruise calls in 2104 - a record number - with 654 of them from international cruise liners. While cruise tourism remains sluggish in the domestic market, the current rapid growth has been a part of the wider regional phenomenon, mainly driven by the development in Chinese source market.

To facilitate this momentum, in an unprecedented move, Japan has become the latest in a string of Far Eastern countries to ease short-stay visa requirements for Chinese visitors, who are among the largest groups of foreign tourists to visit the country and with indisputably the biggest spending power.

Last year, 2.4 million tourists from Mainland China visited Japan, an 83% increase on the previous year, largely thanks to increased cruise ship itineraries from Chinese homeports, such as Shanghai and Tianjin.

The Japanese government has set a target of attracting one million cruise tourists per years by 2020.

Cruise business finally gaining traction in India

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 19 January 2015 19 January 2015

Not having kept pace so far with the recent cruise boom in Asia, India’s cruise business has at last shown signs of awakening. Alan Lam reports.

 

International cruise operators have shunned the shores of India because of various issues relating to bureaucracy and weak infrastructure, leaving the country bereft of cruise business. There now seems to be a greater recognition in the importance this industry for the country. A number of developments have taken place in India in recent months. 

 

At a recent meeting of tourism officials, chaired by the country’s Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma, various issues facing India’s virtually non-existent cruise business were highlighted and the need to develop the industry was acknowledged.

 

Cruise operators have gradually increased their focus on India’s rivers and seaports. After overcoming a few initial issues, Azamara Club Cruises, for example, has announced offering a 20-night “Pearl along the Indian Ocean” itinerary for April 2017 onboard Azamara Journey. The cruise will set sail from Mumbai, with destinations including KudaBandos Islands, Goa, and Sri Lanka.

 

In Goa, the tourism department expects to welcome more than 30,000 cruise tourists during the first five months of 2015. It also expects 25 cruise ships to call at the state’s Mormugao port this year. So far this season AIDAsol, SIDAaura, Voyager, Azamara Quest, Seven Sea Voyager, and Nautica have called at the port. A new cruise terminal is currently under construction at Mormugao, due to open at the end of this year.

 

The sacred River Ganges has opened up for river cruising. Pandaw River Cruises and Uniworld are both expanding their operations there.

 

Many stakeholders are making a good deal of efforts to develop the business in India. The hope now is that this will not be another false start.

Fifteen calls for Baie-Comeau in 2015

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 20 January 2015 20 January 2015

Fifteen cruise ships will visit Baie-Comeau this season, an increase of 60% compared to 2014. All along the cruise season the port will have the opportunity to welcome close to 5,600 cruise passengers and 2,800 crew members. Five different vessels will dock in Baie-Comeau’s port this year; the Pearl Mist, Seabourn Quest, Silver Whisper, Albatross and Saga Sapphire.

Cruise season will start in June with the arrival of the Pearl Mist who will visit us eight times in 2015. "For the 2nd season in a row, we will welcome cruise passengers during the summer months but the high season will still remain September and October," the port said in a statement.

The port of Baie-Comeau will welcome two new vessels to its docks this season; the Saga Sapphire with a capacity of 600 passengers and the Albatross with a capacity of 1,100 cruise passengers.

The season 2016 is promising as well with a total of eight calls already confirmed on the cruise calendar.

FCCA adds four member lines

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 14 January 2015 14 January 2015

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) announces the addition of four member lines. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, brands of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., and Croiseres de France and Pullmantur, brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., recently joined the FCCA, bringing the total to 19 Member Lines.

"The increase in Member Lines is significant for the growth of the FCCA and the Caribbean and Latin American regions," said Michele Paige, president of the FCCA. "It represents not just the cruise lines' commitment to the FCCA, but also their future outlook for this crucial market."

Data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) showed the market's importance, as the Caribbean reigned as the dominant cruise region in 2014, accounting for over 37 percent of global deployment-an increase over its leading 34 percent share in 2013. Plus recent cruise line infrastructure investments, such as Norwegian's Harvest Caye in Belize and Carnival's Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Mahogany Bay in Roatan, proved the industry's intent for future business in the Caribbean and Latin America.

"The Caribbean and Latin America have proven their worth to the industry, but we need to continually build on that success," said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and the FCCA. "Just as our ships and brands innovate, destinations must constantly refresh products to attract new and repeat passengers and compete with global markets. Working with the FCCA is one of the best ways for destinations to stay ahead of the curve "

The FCCA helps destinations and stakeholders with this by developing partnerships and working with them to learn about their individual issues and goals. It then utilizes its knowledge of the industry, along with its Member Line contacts, to tailor an action plan that optimizes the destination's or stakeholder's cruise tourism impact.

A destination or company can access this knowledge and Member Line personnel through the FCCA's membership program and events. Both include functions that gather the industry's decision makers with stakeholders in casual, engaging settings for a healthy mix of business and pleasure that helps form significant relationships. Members and attendees experience this balance while cementing deals at a friendly dinner or getting an inside look at industry projects on unforgettable tours.

The FCCA's keynote event, the Conference & Trade Show, taking place in Cozumel, Mexico from October 6 - 9, 2015, will also showcase this balance during its four-day agenda chock-full of business sessions and networking opportunities. Attendees can target cruise executives during one-on-one meetings or evening functions, as well as learn from the executives during workshops that cater to informing attendees how to increase their share of cruise tourism.