The China Cruise Shipping and Cruise International Expo (CCS) will mark its 10th anniversary this year with the annual trade show and conference held in Shanghai, October 13-15.
Over the years, the CCS has become the most relevant cruise event for China and the Asia-Pacific.
CCS is hosted by the China Communications and Transportation Association (CCTA) and organized by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA). Since 2006, CCS has run for nine years in six cities, including Beijing and the port cities Shanghai, Xiamen, Sanya, Shenzhen and Tianjin.
CCS aims to promote the development of the Chinese cruise industry and brings together top leaders in various government bodies and cruise corporations while promoting advancements in China’s industry-related policies.
It also aims to nurture domestic cruise tourism and bring China’s vast industry potential to the world.
Held concurrently with the conference each year is a growing trade show with four key exhibition areas: cruise lines, suppliers, ports and tourism, and cruise equipment and components.
“Over the past nine years, CCS and the trade show have become an important platform for discussion, displaying new achievements and showing new trends,” said Weihang Zheng, vice president and secretary (the defacto CEO) of CCYIA.
The theme for this year’s event is “The new vacation lifestyle on the sea.”
The aim of the CCS10 is five parts. First, it aims to promote cruise destinations. Second, the conference aims to attract more cruise ship calls at Chinese ports.
Next, the CCYIA will work to extend the cruise value chain, including becoming a procurement platform between cruise companies and suppliers. The event will also work to help streamline crew recruitment and training.
Finally, expect a greater focus on China’s intent to build cruise ships as it aims to introduce cruise ship designs as well as repair potential at China’s many drydocks.
10 Years
The 10th anniversary event will review China’s past decade of cruise development, looking ahead into the next 10 years with specific focus on the hot and cold spots in the industry.
There will be a ceremony dedicated to the Chinese newbuild potential as well as an annual awards ceremony of the Chinese cruise industry.
Over 4,000 participants are expected to come together for this year’s conference. CCS guests of honor often include top government officials from China’s coastal cities and ports, leaders from other Asian tourism cities and ports, CEOs from the major lines, as well as their Asia-Pacific management. As he was last last year, Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, is expected to be in attendance.
This year will also see expanded representation by European shipyards and component suppliers, cruise-related school programs and financial institutions.
Sneak Preview
There are four highlights in this year’s conference program reflecting the Chinese cruise industry’s current developmental stage: cruise ship construction, procurement, internet and cruise tourism and ship financing.
Following last year’s announcement at CCS of Carnival and China State Shipbuilding Corporation cooperating to explore shipbuilding in China, this year’s conference will include a construction forum to discuss new designs and technology, and specifically Chinese cruise-ship newbuilding developments.
While there has been a procurement platform in place to link cruise lines and Chinese suppliers since 2011, Zheng informed Cruise Industry News that this will be a key area of focus this year. Among the highlights will be Royal Caribbean’s (relatively new) procurement team in China participating in the event, in addition to other lines.
“Costa has already put a procurement chief in Shanghai to accelerate contact with local suppliers,” Zheng noted.
This may be one area for rampant growth with China’s manufacturing base and low penetration into supplying cruise ships. Zheng elaborated that on the table for discussion will be barriers to the supply chain, including export tariffs, complex customs procedures, and potential solutions to both issues.
Internet Tech
Not only will a pair of Royal Caribbean Quantum-class ships be in China by 2016, they will be in the market alongside SkySea’s Golden Era (ex-Celebrity Century), with the latter promising a highly connected social network onboard and ashore.
Thus, an internet and cruise tourism forum will focus on internet technology for the cruise industry, including an international reservation model, China’s own reservation development, and how to promote cruise tourism via the internet.
Potential newbuilding and ship acquisitions also continue to attract interest from the capital markets. A new finance forum will touch on ship financing.
Conferences
Other key conference sessions include the industrial leaders’ forum, and the cruise job fair.
“China’s cruise industry’s greatest deficiency is talent, especially in crew, port management and operations,” said Zheng. “Also, travel agents lack high-level marketing talent for cruise promotion. Hence, we will announce the establishment of an Asia Cruise College during this year’s event.”
There will also be an opportunity to visit the Quantum of the Seas.
The host city, Shanghai, is the largest cruise port in China. Its Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal officially commenced its phase-two development in April 2015 with an estimated investment of $129 million.
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The 10th edition of the China Cruise Shipping and International Expo is the Asia/Pacific’s No. 1 cruise event, learn more at http://www.ccyia.com/. The show takes place Oct. 13-15 in Shanghai, October.
Read a detailed analysis of the Chinese cruise market Cruise Industry News Fall/October 2015 Quarterly Magazine, due out October 13.
Visit Cruise Industry News, the official event media sponsor and partner, at CCS in Shanghai.
