Two million people embarked on a cruise in China in 2016. China has become the world's second largest cruise travel market and will be the leading power by 2030, according to the Shanghai Institute of International Shipping.
In a report, the Chinese institute notes that since 2006, the annual growth of this industry has exceeded 40% in the country. Furthermore, by 2030, China will become the world's largest cruise market, with between eight and ten million passengers annually, according to data from the Shanghai Institute of International Maritime Traffic.
In 2016, more than two million people embarked on a cruise in China, and a dozen ports in the Asian country recorded 996 cruise line voyages, 58% more than in 2015, according to the China Transport and Communications Association.
Since the beginning of this year, ports have been renovated to accommodate more cruise lines, and companies have also increased the number of ships they employ for the Chinese market, notes the Chinese travel agency Ctrip.
Cruise travel is becoming increasingly popular not only in major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou, but also in smaller locations such as Chengdu, Qingdao, and Xiamen, according to booking data from Ctrip.
