Report - Fukuoka Cruise Conference
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Report - Fukuoka Cruise Conference
Hakata Port & Harbor Bureau held Fukuoka Cruise Conference at Fukuoka International Congress Center
on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. The conference was co-hosted by Asia Cruise Association (ACA). Based on
Asia Cruise Industry White Paper, a report on the current status and the future prospect of the
rapidly-expanding Asian cruise market, Dr. Zinan Liu, Chairman of ACA reported the present status and
trends of the Asian cruise market.
From left: Koji Tanaka, Chairman, Kyushu Cruise Promotion Conference, Ryutaro Izumi, Carnival Japan, Jian Feng Tong, Royal
Caribbean Cruises, Dr. Zinan Liu, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City, Buhdy Bok, Costa Cruises,
Helen Huang, Costa Cruises, Dr. Takashi Owaki, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, MLIT
The number of attendees was about 250 including those from cruise lines, travel companies and
port-related parties. In particular, the conference was attended by many members of Japan Cruise Port
Association (JCPA), port authorities of all over Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.
In the beginning of the conference, the mayor of
Fukuoka City introduced activities of JCPA and
achievements of Fukuoka City (Hakata Port) in
welcoming cruise ships. JCPA consists of 99 local
governments of Japan. Mayor Takashima gave a
presentation on how the association submits
requests to the related organizations and works
together to promote attractions of Japan as well as
how Hakata Port welcomes cruise ship calls.
Presentation by the mayor of Fukuoka City
After the presentation of Mayor Takashima, Dr. Takashi Owaki, Deputy Director-General for Engineering
Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and Koji Tanaka, Chairman,
Kyushu Cruise Promotion Conference gave speeches as honorable guests. Dr. Owaki said, ‘In June, 2013, the
Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-oriented Country agreed on the Action Program
toward the Realization of Japan as a Tourism-oriented Country. As a result, the number of foreign visitors in
Japan exceeded 10 million. To make Japan a tourism-oriented country, development of both soft and hard
infrastructures in the cruise industry is indispensable. We hope to keep working to vitalize the economy of
local regions by promoting the cruise industry.’ Mr. Tanaka said, ‘By taking advantage of last year’s
designation of Kyushu Asian Tourism Island Comprehensive Special Zone, we are working to overcome the
shortage of tour guides, simplify tax exemption process and develop port facilities. We hope these measures
will bring more cruise ship calls to Kyushu.’
Dr. Zinan Liu, Regional Vice President of Royal Caribbean Cruises made a keynote speech as Chairman of
ACA and described the status of the Asian cruise industry based on Asia Cruise Industry White Paper. Dr. Liu
said, ‘The Asian cruise market is an emerging market, which represents the future opportunity of the cruise
industry. Considering from the penetration ratio of each country, the size of the Asian cruise market is
estimated to become 3.94 million in 2020. And China and Japan will be home of the growth.’ Dr. Liu also
introduced an example of Korea and said, ‘To seize business opportunities, local governments and local port
authorities are aggressively making improvement of port infrastructure such as building cruise terminals. In
Jeju, Korea, there is no visa required to Chinese guests, thus the number of cruise ship calls is large.’
Keynote speech by Dr. Liu
And two international cruise lines, Costa Cruises and Royal
Caribbean Cruises made presentations on what cruise lines
request for Japanese port development.
Buhdy Bok, Senior Vice President Pacific Asia & China,
Costa Cruises requested about easy visa application process
and flexible immigration control, and commented, ‘Ports,
including the Port of Hakata, where passengers board a ship
need to have terminal services such as a relaxing waiting area
as well as good access to public transportation.’ Presentation by cruise lines (Mr. Bok)
Jian Feng Tong, Deputy General Manager, Asia, Royal
Caribbean Cruises said, ‘Cruise ships are getting bigger in
the Asian market, so we need to be prepared for infrastructure
to tackle these ships. There is a great opportunity for Japanese
ports if they catch up with infrastructure development for
catering a cruise ship as large as Oasis of the Seas of Royal
Caribbean.’ Mr. Tong also introduced the current status of ports
in each country. He specifically pointed out necessary future
development to each Japanese port and requested Japan to Presentation by cruise lines (Mr. Tong)
make a strategic investment.
The final speaker was Ryutaro Izumi, Manager, Regional
Sales, Carnival Japan. Mr. Izumi introduced attractions of
cruises by Princess Cruises for the year 2014, which will
homeport Japan and has drawn attention in the Japanese
market. As other speakers from cruise lines did, Mr. Izumi
received many questions from travel agents and port-related
parties who were both very interested in cruises homeporting
Japanese ports. Mr. Isumi said, ‘Among various themed cruises,
cruises to Okinawa and the southwest islands, and cruises
Presentation by cruise lines (Mr. Izumi)
themed on festivals are especially popular.’
【Reference: Program of Fukuoka Cruise Conference (14:15 Opening, 17:30 Closing)】
14:15-14:25 Greeting from the host ʻCruise Promotion by Fukuoka Cityʼ
Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City
14:25-14:35 Greeting from the honorable guests
Dr. Takashi Owaki, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, MLIT
Koji Tanaka, Chairman, Kyushu Cruise Promotion Conference
14:35-15:05 Keynote speech ʻThe Status of the Asian Cruise Industryʼ
Dr. Zinan Liu, Chairman, ACA
15:30-17:30 Presentation by International Cruise Lines
① ʻWhat Cruise Lines Request for Japanese Port Developmentʼ
Buhdy Bok, Senior Vice President Pacific Asia & China, Costa Cruises
② ʻWhat Cruise Lines Request for Japanese Port Developmentʼ
Jian Feng Tong, Deputy General Manager, Asia, Royal Caribbean Cruises
③ ʻPrincess Cruises – Japan Homeporting Program 2014ʼ
Ryutaro Izumi, Manager, Regional Sales, Carnival Japan
Contact: Port Promotion Section, Hakata Port & Harbor Bureau
Phone: +81 92-282-7177 FAX: +81 92-282-7772 Email: shinko.PHB@city.fukuoka.lg.jp
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