Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released its 2018 Asia Cruise Trends report, a comprehensive analysis of the cruise industry within Asia.
"Asia once again showed impressive results in 2017 with most Asian source markets registering double-digit year-on-year growth," said Joel Katz Managing Director for CLIA Australasia and Asia.
Asian sourced ocean cruise passenger numbers hit another record high in 2017 with 4.052 million taking an ocean cruise, up 20.6 per cent. Asia accounted for about 15 per cent of total global ocean passenger volume in 2017.
Mainland China maintained its dominance as a key source market, accounting for almost 60 per cent of all Asian passengers. Most of the Asian markets registered double-digit year-on-year growth.
Between 2012 and 2017, Asian cruise passengers grew from 775,000 to over four million, almost a 40 per cent compound annual growth rate.
2018 will see 38 cruise brands deployed and more ships in Asian waters. In 2013, only 43 ships cruised in Asia, marking an 80 per cent growth since 2013.
South East Asia will see a more than 20 per cent increase in port calls in 2018. In total there will be over 7,100 port calls in Asia with Japan, mainland China, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia expected to receive the greatest number of cruises.
The Asia Cruise Trends project, now it's fourth year, is commissioned by CLIA in collaboration with Chart Management Consultants.