Travel Market News

Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s first "marine spaceport". The Florida-based company in November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot-long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the first in its planned global fleet of converted spaceport vessels to support the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft.The 2003-built Jones Act vessel C Challenger has been renamed Voyager and is currently being converted by Conrad Shipyard following preparatory work by Gulf Ship.

Approximately 130 million Chinese citizens travel internationally, making China the world’s largest outbound travel market in the world. With one-sixth of the world’s population, many recognize this country as a market with huge potential. Until a few years ago, travel by ship was a common mode of transport, but China’s rapid economic evolution has attracted more people to leisure travel opportunities and the luxury holiday experience cruise liners can offer. It is anticipated that the number of Chinese passengers will reach 4.5 million by 2020…

Three State-owned enterprises from the shipping, tourism and construction sectors will cooperate to equip up to eight cruise liners and offer diversified sightseeing services to tap the travel market in the South China Sea, says China Daily. Sanya International Cruise Development Co Ltd, a joint venture by COSCO Shipping, China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd, will buy between five and eight ships. In addition to buying between five and eight ships, the plan calls for the construction of new docks in the resort city of Sanya. Liu Junli, chairman of Sanya International, said the ships may also "cruise around the South China Sea at the appropriate time," according to China Daily.

The cruise business is booming, and Evac said it has benefitted directly with 40 percent annual growth. The cruise business is the fastest-growing category in the leisure travel market, and demand is outstripping supply with average annual passenger growth of over seven percent since 1980. Another record was broken in 2014, with annual occupancy rates exceeding 100 percent and 22.1 million passengers cruising to many of the world’s nearly 1,000 ports. Nearly 23 million passengers are expected to take a cruise in 2016. Cruise lines are currently ordering new vessels for launch during the 2018 to 2026 period, supporting growth of Evac, provider of integrated waste-, wastewater-, and water management systems for the marine, offshore and building industries.

The 125 years old German cruise operator, Hapag-Lloyd, has unveiled new branding, along with a modest name change, that will help promote the luxury cruise line to a global audience. Effective immediately, the old Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten name has been changed to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, in a bid to attract a worldwide audience, rather than just German speaking guests. 125 years after the first Hapag-Lloyd cruise to the Mediterranean from Hamburg aboard the steamer Augusta Victoria, the new branding will help continue the historic legacy of the German cruise line. “We are proud of our long-standing corporate history and we feel even today the innovation and spirit of discovery Albert Ballin joined.

Irish Ferries has added to its tally of top awards by winning the prestigious International Marketing Award at the All Ireland Marketing Awards which were presented recently. Irish Ferries won the award for its 'It's everything you go for' campaign created to develop the company's market in Britain. Sponsored by O2, it was presented to the company's marketing manager Daragh O'Reilly at a gala awards ceremony held in the Burlington Hotel recently. In their citation, the jury praised Irish Ferries for the messaging of the campaign which…

Alcatraz Cruises, the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island, has been awarded the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award in the category of Best Low Carbon Transport and Technology. Award winners were announced November 11 at the World Travel Market conference in London. Alcatraz Cruises was a finalist alongside the British website Seat61.com and the Swiss Railway company Swiss Travel System. Only one other US company was honored – Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. For more information on the other winners visit the Responsible Tourism Awards website (www.responsibletoursimawards.com). “Alcatraz Cruises has worked diligently to align all our operations with the best sustainable business models.