Inaugural Cruise World China Held in Shanghai WTCF representatives attended the event and delivered a speech

The first Cruise World China was held on 12nd October in Shanghai. The event was hosted by Travel Weekly China, which brought together many senior executives from the four international cruise magnates, i.e. Carnival Corporation & PLC, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. More than three hundred elites from tourism industry also attended the meeting. As the host partner, WTCF Deputy Secretary-General Yan Han addressed the audience.

(Dr. Zinan Liu, President of China and North Asia Pacific region, Royal Caribbean International; Arnold W.Donald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, Frank Del Rio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruise)

It is reported that by 2030, the number of tourists in Chinese cruise market would reach 7 million and even peak to 10 million, which indicates the need of more cruise products. Many subjects such as The Growth of Cruising in China, Diversified Products to meet with China Demand, The Cultivating of Consuming Market, and Developing the Cruise Line & Travel Agency Relationship were discussed on the Panels.

Many giant cruise companies showed their confidence on the future potential of Chinese cruise market and stated their plans to develop diversified products. Cruise lines and travel agencies are expected to work hand in hand to face the challenges of contemporary cruise market so as to realize sustainable development of tourism industry.

(Mr.Yan Han introduced the research results)

At the conference, Mr. Yan Han introduced the research results of cruise line released by WTCF’s Market Research Report on Chinese Outbound Tourists (City) Consumption. He stressed that WTCF pays much attention to the interaction and co-existence of tourism destinations and organizations, and the Expert Committee, Committee of Aviation, Committee of Tourism-Related Businesses, and Committee of Media Organization are founded under such purpose. Now WTCF is planning to establish the Committee of Cruise Tourism with its secretariat located in Qingdao. Up till now, 7 cities include Qingdao, Casablanca, Dalian, Rome, Tianjin, Buenos Aires and Athens have joined the Committee. Mr. Yan Han sincerely invited excellent international cruise companies joining WTCF and WTCF Committee of Cruise Tourism to establish the cooperating rules of tourism destination, travel agencies, and cruise companies, and to jointly explore the market platform.

(Yan Han, Deputy General-Secretary of WTCF, Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief, Travel Weekly Senior Vice President-Editorial Director, Travel Group, Wang Shujuan, Deputy Director of Qingdao Tourism Administration, Bob Sullivan, President, Travel Group Northstar Travel Media)

At the event, Wang Shujuan, Deputy Director of Qingdao Tourism Administration, introduced the preparatory works of WTCF Committee of Cruise Tourism and promoted the resources and favorite policies of Qingdao. As an important seaport and coastal city in Northern China, Qingdao is the first Chinese city to dock international cruises. In May, 2015, a home port was put into service, which can dock the biggest cruise in the World. Qingdao municipal government attaches great importance to the cruise industry and regards it as a crucial driving force for the development of Qingdao economy and tourism industry. Depending on the platform of WTCF and its international influence, Qingdao is to host the 4th China International Cruise Summit & Inauguration of WTCF Committee of Cruise Truism in May, 2016.