Full steam ahead for cruise industry

Sector gets ready to move up the value chain with flurry of activity

With the government keen on making China the largest cruise market in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, the cruising industry seems to have got the much-needed impetus for rapid development, judging by the frenzy of activity within the sector.

Evidence that the sector is rapidly unfurling its sails can be gauged from the growth in the number of cruises from China. According to the 2014 China Cruise Industry Development Report released by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association on Wednesday, the total number of cruises from China is expected to be around 466 by the end of 2014, a 14.78 percent year-on-year growth.