Cruise development speeds top-level design

On August 1, the Water Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Transport convened a cruise work seminar to conduct in-depth discussions on the development strategy of China's cruise ships, the development of China's cruise company policy, and the launching of pilot projects for cruise ships.

In recent years, China's cruise transportation industry has developed rapidly. According to preliminary statistics, in 2006, the country’s ports received 115 cruises, 285 in 2012, an increase of 148%, an average annual increase of 16%, and the number of passengers entering and leaving the country increased from 160,000 to 660,000. From January to June this year, the nation’s ports received 236 cruises, an increase of 117% over the same period last year. It is estimated that by 2020, the cruise market's contribution to China's economy will reach 51 billion yuan, becoming a new economic growth point for water transport.

The meeting pointed out that accelerating the transformation and upgrading of waterway passenger transport, vigorously promoting the economic development of cruise ships, and nurturing new economic growth points for water transport are important measures for the Ministry of Transport to “change the way, adjust the structure, and promote growth”. To correctly understand the development trend of waterway passenger transportation and to accurately position the status of the cruise economy in the development of the national economy, the key is to accelerate the pace of top-level design, conduct in-depth research and development of relevant strategies, policies, regulations and standards, and strengthen safety supervision and service supervision. Enhance the level of high-end passenger service in the waterway, standardize and guide the healthy scientific development of the cruise transportation industry.