Dynamics of Cruise Tourism in Asia: A Multifaceted Perspective

Introduction

Asia, the world's largest and most populous continent, pulsates with a vibrant tapestry of cultures, histories, and landscapes(So & Morrison, 2004; Tao & Kim, 2019; Yeo, 2010). Encompassing over 48 countries and territories, it stretches from the icy peaks of the Himalayas to the sun-drenched beaches of Southeast Asia. This vast region boasts a rich mosaic of ethnicities, languages, and religions, each contributing to a unique character that has captivated explorers and scholars for millennia.

The geographical division of the region generally underlines China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan as Eastern Asian countries; Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam as Southeast Asian countries; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran (partially in Asia), Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka as Southern Asian countries; Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen as Western Asia (Middle East) countries and central Asia includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The region has global economic value due to the availability of a huge market, renowned production and manufacturing companies, IT hubs, a huge cargo industry, a strong automobile, and technology industry and so on. Further, the region attracts global tourists due to its rich heritage, glorious past, architectural wealth, cultural identities, diversity, and natural wealth(Jadhav et al., 2014; Kanrak et al., 2023; Lau & Yip, 2020; Wang et al., 2016). All of these features attract Western travellers to the region making cruising in Asian locations a potential growth area for the transportation and tourist industries(Lau & Yip, 2020).

Tourists explore Asian tourists’ destinations through a variety of modes of transport including air, land, railway and sea. The earlier two are very commonly used ways for tourist movement, whereas the railway is a good transport option for tourists looking for domestic movement and generally cheaper and faster ways. The option of sea/ water transport is available for domestic as well as international tourism as many countries of the Asian region either have sea cost or inland waterways.

Cruise tourism in Asia has experienced remarkable growth and transformation over the past few decades(Pallis & Vaggelas, 2020). This region, once relatively unexplored by the cruise industry, has become a key player in the global cruise market. Asia's cruise industry has grown significantly as both a cruise destination and a source market. Traditionally, Asia is separated into two regions: Southeast and Northeast. China, Japan, and South Korea are the largest cruise markets in the Northeast(Lee, 2016). China has emerged as a major player in the Asian cruise market, with several cruise lines dedicating ships exclusively to the Chinese market(CLIA, 2022b; Hsu, 2015; Hung et al., 2019; Pallis & Vaggelas, 2020; Tao & Kim, 2019). Other Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have also experienced growth in cruise tourism. To support this growth, significant investments have been made in cruise port infrastructure. Major cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore have developed state-of-the-art cruise terminals to accommodate large cruise ships. Ports in Asia often collaborate with cruise lines to develop tailor-made itineraries and experiences. This includes arranging for special events, cultural performances, and local excursions. Investment in cruise infrastructure can yield significant economic benefits for host cities and regions. This includes the creation of jobs, increased tourism revenue, and the stimulation of local businesses.

All of the ports in the region face significant obstacles as well as fantastic opportunities as a result of the cruise industry's explosive growth in Asia. On the one hand, the region's capabilities and necessity for many regional cruise hubs can be enhanced by the development of port infrastructures in Asian cities and the expansion of the Chinese and other tourism markets. However, the area is up against intense competition from significant nearby ports (Hsu, 2015).