Biography Ctrip start two cruise ships

Reporter Cao Shengyuan Shanghai reported

In early 2014, Ctrip identified key new businesses such as tickets, cruise lines, car rentals, group buying and other major businesses, and spared no expense in expanding the market. In the "incorporated" with the same stage of the network to complete the task of increasing the ticket business, Ctrip will be more energy into the cruise business to go.

On July 17, Ctrip's second cruise ship was rapidly fermented inside and outside the industry. The resulting heavy asset model of Ctrip's cruise industry was extensively discussed.

Ctrip declined to comment on this news. While insiders said in an interview with 21st Century Business Herald, Ctrip's purchase of a cruise ship is an important part of Ctrip's expansion into the overseas travel market. Although it may face some financial pressure in the short term, it is in line with the current situation Domestic cruise travel business rapid development trend.

Hold two cruise ships?

The Asian Cruise Association's 2013 report predicts that by 2020, the demand for cruise lines in Asia will triple to 3.8 million. Among them, China's demand will reach 1.6 million. More industry experts boldly predicted that in the future China will become the world's second largest cruise tourism market.

The rapid growth of China's cruise industry is accompanied by the rapid expansion of China's tourism industry. China National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei said that for the first time, the number of Chinese citizens leaving the country for travel exceeded 90 million. This year, it is expected to exceed 100 million. The number of outbound tourists to China will exceed 400 million in the next five years.

For the development of the current cruise ship, Travelzoo Travel China President Hong Wei said in an interview: "This year's cruise market presents three distinct characteristics: First, the market is clear, the consumption is a greater degree of differentiation , The big price war period has passed.High-end and people-first parallel, are pursuing cost-effective; second, the family trip, the elderly market to promote young people cruise enthusiasm; third, from a single front-line city market, to second and third tier cities extend."

It is for this reason that from June to September each year, it is always the peak season for cruise tourism. The advent of summer vacation, a variety of online travel business who have resorted to similar "charter tour", "1 yuan tour" and other cruise travel products, smoky cruise war has kicked off. Princess Cruises, Costa, Royal Caribbean and other international cruise lines have geared up to increase online marketing efforts.

Just about every effort to drink their own cruise travel products, Ctrip purchase cruise ship news suddenly came out.

A few days ago, there are industry website burst Ctrip or repay the heavy purchase of a cruise ship to further promote the cruise business, and leaving a hint that there may be a second occurrence, the site also issued a short Ctrip two two Cruise ship news.

Ctrip laissez-faire cruise business shot back as early as there is a trace.

Earlier this year, Yang Lei, senior director of Ctrip's cruise business, said that the cruise is an emerging business unit that Ctrip focused on nurturing. In 2013, the number of passengers enrolled in the Ctrip is estimated to account for nearly 10% of the domestic market. It is the nation's largest cruise online reservation platform, "and there is no direct Competitors. " Now the cruise market is still in an early stage of development, Ctrip's primary goal is to further create a leading edge.

However, Ctrip for the above message was "no comment" to respond.

Ctrip heavy asset problems

"Ctrip's move is an important part of Ctrip's overseas expansion." Analysys Consulting Zhu Zhengyu talked about Ctrip's move into the cruise when the analysis said, "Cruise is not just a means of transport, but also bear the destination A role in the cruise business is also very good with the current exit boom. "

However, in Zhu Zhengyu's view, if Ctrip's purchase of a cruise is true, the future is likely to face funding and cruise operations problems.

At present, although all online travel merchants have their own cruise travel products, but they are basically the way to use the fight or charter sales, the economic benefits of these methods is relatively reasonable, at the same time the company The risk of not being fully loaded is also relatively small.

"At present, the risk of buying a vessel for cruise ship products is high, mainly because of the problem of occupancy rate, and the manpower cost is relatively high." In Zhu Zhengyu's opinion, Ctrip's cruise travel is still under development The period is so generous, it is precisely because the company saw the future of the rapid growth of the cruise business in the Chinese market, Ctrip's economic pressure in the short term will be relatively large, but in the long term Ctrip will have greater advantages.

It is understood that the current cycle of a conventional cruise ship to be 4-5 years, and each cruise investment billions of dollars at every turn. If Ctrip purchase of two cruises is true, both in time and money, Ctrip is likely to purchase is already in service and relatively mature operation of the old ship.

Leaving aside the financial pressure, Ctrip purchased the cruise ship, the most important thing is to the entire ship staff together, the difficulty is not small.

At present, the purchasing funds of one or even a few cruise ships are not an astronomical figure for some industry leaders. What is lacking in the development of China's cruise economy is the soft power of the industry - the management personnel for cruise operations and the management system for cruise operations.

"From the current news we can see that Ctrip bought two in a short period of time, at least shows that its operations team has been in full swing operation, on the other hand also shows that the relevant operations so far are relatively smooth." Zhu said .

To be sure, once Ctrip holds two cruise ships, rival competition has entered a new pattern.