Relation-building for Asia’s re-energized cruise market

‍Wallem is building for growth as Asia’s cruise market rebounds, with Chinese tourists rejoining those from the West in sampling the delights of Southeast Asia, writes Wallem Ship Agency Managing Director Dickson Chin.

Re-energised demand for cruise vacations in Asia is being driven by revived growth in Chinese tourist numbers, but also by returning Western appetites for the region’s attractions.

Shanghai International Cruise Business Institute recently estimated China's home ports processed over 2 million cruise passengers trips in 2024 - the nation’s first year of resumed cruises after Covid-19.

In March 2025, Shanghai set a new record for foreign arrivals in a single day, when nearly 4,800 international visitors disembarked at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.  

Figures for Japan are also climbing. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism reported nearly 2,500 ships calling at Japanese ports last year – a third more than 2023. Further growth is predicted, given that last year’s calls by Chinese cruise ships in Japan were 44% of their 2017 level.

With China-based lines, such as Adora Cruises, expanding into Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, western owners are also extending itineraries across a region where distinct sights, cultures, and cuisines are separated by only a day’s sailing. Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises are building into Southeast Asia, while Norwegian Cruise Line is focusing on Taiwan and Japan.

Expectations are high of a return to five million cruises annually within Asia.

But delivering on the promise requires careful nurturing, in a market where the joys of variety must be matched by consistency in terms of quality.

Wallem handled its highest number of cruise port calls yet in Asia last year and continues its strategy of building relationships with lines, governments and individual destinations, in order to act as a super connector between stakeholders.

From experience, Wallem believes opportunities come with the ability to ‘move up the value chain’. Our relationship with Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection is a clear example, as is our scale-building role as agent for Resorts World Cruises as it take its cruise business in-house.

Growing cruise relationships across Asia also broadens Wallem’s perspective on industry responsibilities to the region’s environment and local cultures. Growth targets that include finding unspoiled island destinations bring obligations to protect destinations, inhabitants and wildlife from day-to-day disruption, socio-economic upheaval and pollution.

Industry, government agencies and destinations must work together to ensure these obligations are met. In this context, Wallem wholly welcomes moves by authorities in Hong Kong to revive the consideration of an initiative to develop zero-emission shore power at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Wallem Ship Agency remains ready, as ever, to bring cruise stakeholders together in trusting partnerships that can leverage the strong working relationships we have with regional authorities and governments on behalf of our cruise line customers.

Together, we can create exciting new itineraries, explore remote destinations across this fascinating continent, and deliver the variety that is Asian cruising’s secret ingredient.

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