2013 International Conference on Advances in Social Science, Humanities, and Management (ASSHM 2013)

Research on the Cruise Circle

CHEN Lingling, HUANG Jianshe, XIAO Hong XIAO Xiao (College of Navigation, , Xiamen 361021, )

Abstract Plan" about improving port, developing passenger transport, transforming Dongdu “The Taiwan Strait cruise circle” refers to area berths, expanding the cruise terminal cruise industry economic circle which shoreline and building the international located between Northeast and Southeast cruise home port. There also have some Asia cruise circle. It is regional economic development bottlenecks of Xiamen itself, concept. This paper through the present such as passenger capacity, economic development situation of cruise economy hinterland capacity as well as to the route and development background of Taiwan policy about Taiwan and so on. So the Strait cruise circle, separately from three research for "Taiwan Strait cruise circle" aspects such as the cruise port facilities, is particularly significant, how to break tourist market, route setting to analyzed the bottleneck and create a good "Taiwan the prospect of "Strait cruise economic Strait cruise circle" is worthy of our study. circle", do thinking and suggestions such as integration of resources surrounding ports, increase policy support, personnel 2. Present situation of Cruise economy training and other aspects to promote its development progress. Cruise industry is rapidly developing, although the impact of financial crisis in Keywords: Taiwan Strait Cruise Circle; 2008, the number of passenger growth Cruise Industry; Regional Cruise Home has slowed, but then began to increase Port year by year. In 2012, Cruise passengers carried worldwide are about 15.7 million, 1. Introduction and the worldwide cruise market value is estimated 24.5 billion. Cruise industry has Since twenty-first century, the North an enormous contribution to the economy. American market increasingly saturated Some cities of China have completed the and European international cruise market constructions of International Passenger suffers the influence of economic crisis in Center, such as Shanghai, Xiamen and past two years, cruise market gradually Sanya. They also had opened a cruise eastward. The Cruise company intends to home port route, Xiamen cruise home open up new markets in China, they begin port normalization route has been carried to pay attention to the tourist market of out [1]. Cruise development condition in Asia and China, many of them choose China gradual mature, outbound tourism China's coastal port as port of call, the market grows steadily, there is unlimited number of International luxury cruise potential. This will bring opportunities which received by China coastal port and challenges to China's economy, and increased year by year. The development lay the foundation for the development of of cruise industry is of great significance Chinese home port. to Xiamen economy, Xiamen has made the project at the "Twelfth Five Year © 2013. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press ------Foundation item: Soft science fund project of Province(2013R0077); Project of Xiamen Municipal Development and 874 Reform Commission(20120016) Author brief introduction: CHEN Lingling（1989-）, female, Putian, Fujian, Master Degree Candidate, Engaged in the research of transportation planning and management, [email protected]

3. The development background of the the mother port city. Xiamen once only as "Taiwan Strait Cruise Circle" a cruise port of call exists due to various factors. In December 2008, the realization 3.1. The birth of the “Taiwan Strait of direct shipping links across the Taiwan Cruise Circle" idea Straits, the cross-strait passenger number revealed an increasing tendency, vigorous In the case of Xiamen, the development development of the cross-strait direct of cruise economy is not only an opportu- shipping created favorable conditions for nity, but also a challenge. The develop- cross-strait communication and personnel ment of Xiamen cruise industry economy contact. Under background of promoting is undoubtedly promoted, but Xiamen Straits economic zone and the Southeast also faced huge pressure of competition. international shipping center construction, Xiamen's economy hinter-land has a big Xiamen port and harbor in Taiwan jointly gap with the Yangtze and the Pearl River proposed the idea of "the cruise economic Delta. Economic condition and regional circle" that build 11 channel cruise line population is far less than Shanghai and products with Xiamen as the center. (as Tianjin. Xiamen should base on location showed in Table 1), highlights significant advantage and the characteristics of their advantages of the Taiwan Strait cruise own, build the regional characteristics of circle 8 hours "gold".

Tab1. The product of cruise line

Xiamen-Jinmen-Penghu-Xiamen Three short range cruise Xiamen-Penghu-Keelung-Xiamen experience products Xiamen-Keelung-Taichung-Kaohsiung-Xiamen Shanghai-Xiamen-Taichung-Keelung-Shanghai Three double port cruise Shanghai-Xiamen-Penghu-Taichung-Keelung-Shanghai products Shanghai-Zhoushan-Taichung-Keelung-Shanghai Xiamen-Penghu-Kaohsiung-hongkong-Xiamen Four three places of two Hongkong-Xiamen-Keelung-Taichung-Kaohsiung-hongkong sides circular cruise products Xiamen-Penghu-Kaohsiung-Guangzhou-Xiamen Xiamen-Penghu-Kaohsiung-Shengzhen-Xiamen One Taiwan around Xiamen-Taichung-Kaohsiung-Hualie-Keelung-Xiamen Island Cruise products

3.2. The new concept of "Taiwan Strait laid between northeast Asia and southeast Cruise Circle" Asia cruise circle (as shown in fig. 1). Xiamen has a unique advantage to [2] Taiwan Strait cruise circle is regional Taiwan, which is beneficial to create economical concept, covered the ports "Strait cruise ring", radiation north to including Xiamen, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Northeast Asian countries and regions, Hongkong, Macao special administrative and south to Southeast Asia countries and regions and Taiwan, Keelung, Taichung, regions, built the dynamic regional cruise Kaohsiung, Hualie and other ports, which 875

home port along the southeast coast of the international cruise center. The birth china finally. of international cruise center has become a booster for Xiamen cruise economy, Dongdu port as a follow-up development of cruise center can berth 3~4 small and medium-size international cruise or above two 100000 ton cruise at the same time. Keelung and Kaohsiung are Taiwan's two largest commercial ports, in order to fight for the cruise business opportunities, Keelung and Kaohsiung port present the construction of passenger transport and port building in 2009. The building can provide every 3000 passengers capacity, wharf can accommodate two 100000 ton cruises. In August 31, 2012, Keelung port received Asia's largest cruise ship "Ocean Voyager", in order to meet the "Voyager of the seas", Taiwan spent 300 million NT so as to the wharf can be deepened to 10 m. We can say, Keelung and Kaohsiung port also have equipped the infrastructure

conditions. Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of Taiwan Strait 4.2. The exploitation of tourist market cruise circle Recent years, the number of mainland tourists in Taiwan region is increasing, 4. "Analysis of the development of before 2008 the increasing growth steady, Taiwan Strait Cruise Circle" and then showed a positively proportional growth (as shown in Fig. 2). 4.1. Cruise port facilities continue to improve

From table 1, route setting involving Hongkong, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kaohsiung, Keelung, Penghu, Hualie, Taichung, Kinmen of Taiwan, which is mainly focussed on the Taiwan region. In order to promote cruise economy development, construct regional cruise circle, infrastructure construction Fig. 2: Taiwan area inbound passengers of the home port is essential. With the change in recent 10 years [3] rapid development of world and China cruise industry, cruise trend to giant, in This is because relevant travel policy 2011, Xiamen's government decided to on Taiwan is gradually relaxed from 2008, transform Dongdu port area of Xiamen including direct cross-strait, "mini three port, turn dongdu freight port to cruise links" and "three the direct links" mode, home port. At present, the Wharf used to Mainland and Taiwan achieved the direct receive international cruise is located in sea. In the second half of 2008, Taiwan

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began to open groups of people travel to development, It is significant to boost Taiwan. 2011, Taiwan opened individual both sides economy. city freedom to the mainland, including 4.3. The rationality of shipping routes Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen. setting etc. At the same time, opened Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu three the outlying islands Xiamen located in Taiwan Strait cruise free lines. There are about more than circle center, north to Shanghai, south to 7311000 entry people in Taiwan in 2012. Hongkong, closest to Taiwan, location In "Channel cruise industry promotion advantages are obvious, and the route meeting" which Held in July 30, 2013, the distance to Taiwan, Hong Kong and general manager of Hongkong Tourism Shanghai port meet evening-morning plan, Development Bureau Huang Zhuoxiong highlight "golden eight hours' advantage. proposed: “Hongkong is a great tourist It's a reasonable adopting the combination market”. According the news of National of short and medium line setting, it can Tourism Administration of Hong Kong adapt to Chinese living habit at the same and Macao: The number of Hongkong time. Due to the constraint of holiday compatriots travel to the mainland up to system in our country, if setting a longer 39770000 person-time in 1997, and in route, some tourists may not be able to 2011 reach about 79360000 person-time, have so much time, or schedule will be Hongkong compatriot entry number has disrupted. doubled in 15 years, with an average Route setting also opened up a double growth rate of 5.06% annual, a total of home port routes, taking Shanghai port 980 million people, accounting for 62.5% and Xiamen port as home port operation. of the total number of mainland entry. In It will be more advantageous extends the 2011, the two-way exchange number tourist market and increase flow rate, achieves about 108 million person time, leading to regional tourism development, as the world's largest two-way tourism promote the cross-strait economic. customer market. As one of the tourism developed port 5. Some thoughts and suggestions on city of xiamen, has large local customers promoting the "development of the and extremely strong passenger appeal. Cruise Circle" Through 2012, received 41.2443 million tourists from home and abroad, which 5.1. Integrate resources around the was an increase about 17.07%. According port, attract customers to the data provided by the Xiamen international cruise center, since 2000, Tourist capacity limited is one of the frequency of international cruise visiting main bottlenecks for Xiamen. In order to increased year by year. During the period attract tourists, Xiamen could integrate of "The 11th five-year plan", Xiamen resources around. Xiamen itself is an received total of 82 international cruise international competitive tourism city, the ships and received international cruise around tourist resources are also very rich. visitors up to 146000 person-times. There are Tulou, , Coastal Volcano Two-way tourism travel to Taiwan and National Geological Park and humanistic Hong Kong tourists each year is so great landscape in three hours traffic circle, If these customers can effectively attract, cruise passengers can conveniently realize coupled with its own local customers in the travel. Secondly, developed transport Xiamen, the customer market of "Taiwan system provides a reliable custom supply. Strait cruise circle" can get effective In Air transport, Xiamen International Airport opened 170 routes access to 86

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city, airport passengers formally break conference which holds in July 30, 2013, through 2000000 person time in 2011. In General Manager of International Cruise Road traffic, Fuxia, Xiashen, Xiangpu Port Development Limited of Shanghai railway created a further development Wusongkou Lu Guangyuan was asked, condition of Yangtze River Delta, Pearl which obstacle has encountered in the River Delta and inland tourist market [4]. development? He noted, the procedures of 5.2. Contact with the cruise company customs declaration and inspection is too and travel agency, to achieve much, and the passenger flow volume normal operation of cruise home exceeded the construction prediction of port passenger transportation center, little rest places lead to comfort level is not enough, Xiamen is one of the earliest received so in the construction of the passenger ports for international cruise in Chinese terminal building, Xiamen should refer to mainland. It is the first Chinese mainland the opinions of other big companies. port on a regular international cruise line. At the same time, China's international But because Xiamen have not a system cruise port realizes multi linked [5] policy planning of cruise industry before, she in Xiamen, Xiamen should strengthen the unable to provide stable and sufficient cooperation with Shanghai and Tianjin custom sources and then unable to attract port , put Xiamen into its existing south cruise to port to set up home port line, route of affiliated port to achieve the thus restricting the normal operation of its cruise ship anchored accumulation. cruise. Now, "The Taiwan Strait cruise 5.4. Increase policy support circle" laid a foundation for the Xiamen cruise home port development. Xiamen Because of the special relationship with will actively engage with cruise company Taiwan, Xiamen lacks the characteristic and travel agency, according to market ship route policy of Xiamen home port, prospects of "the Taiwan Strait cruise Taiwan short experience product may be circle", attracting cruise to port to set up the most attractive cruise products in home port line, promoting travel agency Xiamen. But the two sides now there is cooperation operation, realize the normal no direct flights right with Taiwan about operation of Xiamen cruise. cruise, at present can only use the charter 5.3. Strengthen the exchanges and form which should apply for the special cooperation between the home case direct charter four months in advance. port city So, first of all, we have to apply for the shipping rights, promote the normal Although Xiamen has the advantage of operation of cruise tourism products in location and market bases in building policy. "Taiwan Strait cruise circle", there are On other hand, the soft environment in still a lot of obstacles. The local and Xiamen now is weak, regarding tourism’s foreign tourist market of Xiamen is very characteristic routes of Taiwan, there is no large, but there is still a big gap when convenient policy, registration time is compared with the Shanghai and Tianjin. long, the customs procedures and port Xiamen should actively share experiences management system are not perfect. If it with other cruise home port city, such as can raise the speed of the registration and Shanghai, Tianjin and so on, strengthen customs clearance, comfortable of service the exchanges, summarizes the problems and tourist attraction will be effectively and avoid appearing similar mistakes in improved [6]. the construction. At channel cruise industry promotion

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5.5. Talent cultivation obtain long-term, sustained development. I believe the development of "the strait In China, the cruise industry has just economic cruise circle" will promote the emerged in recently years, construction of construction of the Straits Economic Zone the cultivation of talents is also urgently and the Southeast international shipping when Xiamen accelerates the construction center, so as to drive the entire southeast of the cruise terminal and other hardware tourism economical development, laid a facilities, if without professional serve for solid foundation for Xiamen regional cruise market, perfect hardware facilities cruise home port. can’t meet the needs of the market as well. Because of lacking cruise professional 7. References management personnel and consultant, hindered the promotion pace of cruise [1] Yanzi Wu, yunhai Zhu. Sanya Cruise industry. Now, the cruise tourism mostly Economic Development opportunity and adopts charter form with team into and challenge[J]. China Ports, 2011(4):44-47. team out, though travel agencies to attract [2] Heqiang Xing,Huiling Yang. Xiamen tourists. The cruise is a tourist destination international cruise center _ one body two nature. Travel agency should promote the wings _ casting brand[N]. Outside the cruise concept and cruise knowledge, China Times, 2013-03-13(008) rather than just the scenic landscape. In [3] Hangqu. Analysis of mainland tourist the face of cultivating professional talents population status and influence of Taiwan of the cruise, there are two ways: one is area in China[D]. Jilin University, 2013- social recruitment, from social workers 05 who engaged in cruise industry, these [4] Fen Qin, hi Wang. Some reflections people have a lot of experiences. This is and suggestions on speeding up the the most efficient way. Another way is to development of Xiamen cruise tourism[J]. open cruise curriculums in Colleges and China Ports, 2013（05）：11, 25-27. universities to train the personnel talents. [5] Minghua Wu. "Multi link" boosts the However, teachers, textbook selection and cruise industry development[J]. China teaching base scarcity are also a question Ocean Shipping, 2009（12）：16-17. we must research first [7]. [6] Shiwei Chen, Hongbin Chen. Analysis of development strategy of Xiamen cruise 6. Conclusion economic[J]. Science and Technology Information, 2007(11):485. The development of Xiamen cruise is [7] Lu Wang. Study on current situation in the initial stage, the construction of of Xiamen cruise tourism talents[J]. “the Taiwan Strait cruise circle " is still Journal of Hubei Institute of Technology, faced with great challenges. It requires all 2012(10):30-31. parties continuous efforts in the future development, including cruise company, port, the travel agency and government, strengthen multilateral cooperation. At the same time, government and enterprises should increase investment of scientific research, encourage relevant institutions actively participates in the research on the development of cruise industry. In this way, "the Taiwan Strait cruise circle" can

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