China Tourism Group Partners with COSCO and Industry Leaders to Launch Asia’s Largest Cruise Fleet, Signaling a New Era for China’s Booming Cruise Industry

Published on November 24, 2025

China Tourism Group has embarked on a major initiative to boost the cruise industry by joining forces with several other companies to establish a state-owned cruise operator. This new venture consolidates their assets, aiming to operate the largest cruise fleet in Asia and inject fresh momentum into China’s cruise industry. The platform will be managed by Huaxia International Cruises, a subsidiary of China Tourism, and is expected to drive significant growth and development within the sector.

The new platform will oversee a fleet of large, luxurious cruise vessels, including the Adora Magic City, Adora Mediterranea, Nanhai Dream, Piano Land, and Adora Flora City. These ships represent the cutting edge of the cruise industry and are expected to enhance the quality of China’s cruise offerings. According to reports from Haikou-based China Tourism, this initiative is expected to position China as a major player in the global cruise industry.

A key milestone in this consolidation process took place on November 21 when China Tourism and China COSCO Shipping Group established a new subsidiary under Huaxia, named Star Cruises. This subsidiary is set to play a critical role in operating and expanding the fleet under the new unified structure. The partnership between the two giants is expected to lead to operational efficiencies and offer a more competitive product to the market.

Last December, Huaxia International Cruises also announced plans to increase its investment in Adora Cruises, which has been a key part of the group’s expansion strategy. The collaboration with CSSC Cruise Technology Development, the parent company of Adora Cruises, under the central government’s China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), is designed to build an integrated industrial chain. This chain will span from the design and construction of cruise ships to their operational management, supply chain, and beyond. By working closely with CSSC, Huaxia aims to create a robust ecosystem that will support the long-term development of China’s cruise industry.

The economic impact of cruise ships extends well beyond their direct operations. Analysts highlight that the cruise industry has a far-reaching effect on numerous other sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, tourism, trade, financial services, and cultural industries. The growth of the cruise sector is expected to drive job creation and generate significant revenue across these sectors. The cruise industry is seen as a key engine for economic development, offering an impressive multiplier effect.

Li Ming, general manager of Huaxia International Cruises, explained that for every CNY1 (USD0.14) of revenue generated by the cruise industry, it can stimulate CNY10 to CNY14 in economic activity within related sectors. This underscores the potential of the cruise industry to act as a catalyst for broader economic growth, particularly in industries that are integral to the country’s infrastructure and development.

China’s cruise industry has already seen significant growth in recent years. Between 2008 and 2017, the country experienced what can be described as a “golden decade” in cruise tourism. During this period, China became the second-largest source of cruise passengers globally, following the United States. The number of cruise travelers from China grew at an annual rate of 40 to 50 percent, reflecting the increasing demand for cruise vacations and the country’s growing role in the international cruise market.

China’s cruise economy is now entering a new phase of growth. According to Wang Hong, director of the Shanghai International Cruise Economy Research Center, the industry is set to continue expanding, with China’s cruise ports seeing significant increases in traffic. In the first three quarters of the year alone, China’s cruise ports handled 344 cruise ships, marking a 17 percent increase from the previous year. The number of passengers arriving or departing from China via cruise ships also saw a significant rise, with 2.05 million passengers recorded, a year-on-year increase of 28 percent.

Looking ahead, the future of China’s cruise industry appears promising. With a strong foundation of state-backed investment, strategic partnerships, and an expanding fleet, the country is poised to continue its growth trajectory in the global cruise market. China Tourism holds a 35.3 percent stake in Huaxia International Cruises, which was founded in December 2023, while China COSCO Shipping Group and China Merchants Group each hold 17.6 percent of the subsidiary. These stakes indicate the scale and ambition of the project, positioning China to further solidify its presence in the cruise industry and take on a larger share of the global market.

As the industry moves forward, the investments made by China Tourism and its partners are expected to strengthen the cruise sector’s ability to generate long-term economic value, making it a key component of the country’s broader tourism and economic development plans.