December 2015 - Volume 16, Issue 5
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SHTM Presents Strategies and Policy Implications to Enhance Hong Kong's Competitiveness as a Regional Cruise Hub

The SHTM recently announced the findings of a study on "Enhancing Hong Kong's Competitiveness as a Regional Cruise Hub from a Policy Perspective", offering a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to become a competitive regional cruise hub.

Spearheaded by Professor Cathy Hsu, Principal Investigator and SHTM Chair Professor, and funded by the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the project employed rigorous research methodologies, including interviews, focus groups and a survey, to systematically analyse supply and demand factors, suggest effective strategies for Hong Kong's development as a regional cruise hub and draw implications for the formulation of future cruise-tourism-related policies.

With the cruise industry experiencing annual growth with an average of 7.2% in passenger numbers since 1990, the rising role of Asia in the global economy and the number of mainland Chinese tourists taking cruises expected to surpass 1 million for the first time in 2015, Hong Kong is facing excellent opportunities along with sizeable challenges.

Professor Hsu noted that the newly launched HK$8.2 billion Kai Tak Cruise Terminal represents the Hong Kong government's firm commitment to establish Hong Kong as a regional cruise hub, but the city is also facing fierce competition from neighbouring ports such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Indeed, Singapore and Shanghai have declared their plan of being a regional cruise hub. Regional economies such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan are also aggressively expanding their cruise port infrastructure and trying to capture the rapidly growing Asian cruise traveller market.

With a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape, the project team presented strategies and policy implications in an attempt to help the Hong Kong government formulate and implement cruise-tourism-related policies related to demand- and supply-side factors and cross-community collaboration.

1. Demand side:
  • Market to a 3-hour radius region, maximising the benefits of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge and high speed rail
  • Increase mainland residents' awareness of short- and long-haul itineraries
  • Increase awareness and interest among Hong Kong residents in cruise holidays
  • Educate Asian consumers about the nature of cruises
2. Supply side:
  • Continue to promote Hong Kong and attract ships
  • Strengthen transportation to/from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
  • Encourage onboard immigration clearance
  • Explore/develop new neighbouring ports to expand itineraries
  • Attract more cruise lines to use Hong Kong as their (regional) headquarters
  • Initiate cross-governmental agency collaboration
3. Cross-community collaboration:
  • Regional collaboration
    • Avoid duplicate offerings and promote distinctive positioning of each port
    • Relax PRC passport holders' cruise travel permit regulations
    • Arrange special visas for cruise passengers
  • Trade association
  • Cruise research and education
The SHTM is proud to be able to support the development of the cruise industry in this significant way.



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This e-newsletter is issued by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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