Cruise Tourism Market Will Become a New Economic Growth Point

Shanghai is recognized as one of the ideal cruise port cities in China. As an integral part of the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center, the cruise economy is injecting endless vitality into the development of Shanghai, and exerting positive impacts on the social, economic and cultural development of Shanghai and its surrounding areas. In Shanghai North Bund, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, commonly referred to as a "Water Drop", was officially opened in this August, becoming an important symbol of Shanghai cruise homeport. Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal under construction will be put into use before the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Shanghai's cruise economy has ushered in a new period of development. In the recent five years, Shanghai has achieved a good momentum in developing cruise economy. Relative data show that the development of Shanghai's cruise economy has not been impacted by the international financial crisis, but bucked the market trend with new highs in the numbers of cross-boundary passengers by cruise and cruise liners berthing at Shanghai. The number of entry-exit cruise passengers is expected to reach 200,000 this year, and 300,000 during the 2010 Expo. The cruise economy is leading the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center.

In this context, the “2009 Symposium on International Cruise Economy Shanghai & Press Conference on the First China Cruise Market Development Research Report" was jointly organized by SISI, CCYIA and Shanghai North Shipping Service Cluster Construction & Development Office at SISI on September 26, 2009.

The Cruise Economy Institute under SISI is a research and advisory institution co-founded mainly by SISI, Shanghai Maritime University and CCYIA through a strategic partnership. The Institute is mainly engaged in research and advisory activities covering cruise industry development policies, development strategies, market research, industry planning, economic impact, development of supporting facilities, etc.

Discussions at this symposium focused mainly on the development of Shanghai's cruise industry chain, cultivation of cruise market and cruise market policies. The first China Cruise Market Development Research Report completed by the Cruise Economy Institute was also released at the symposium.

The research shows, under favorable international conditions featuring a shifted focus of the global cruise market to Europe and Asia, China has gained multiple advantages in port facilities, market demand, tourism resources and oriental culture for the development of the cruise industry. In addition, the Chinese element will inevitably enhance China's special status in global cruise market. The report argues that China's cruise market has great development potential, and the cruise tourism market will become the new economic growth point in China's tourism industry.