Chongqing is building a boutique Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise fleet in 2018

In April, at the 2018 China "Internet+" Digital Economy Summit held in Chongqing, Liu Qiangdong, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of JD Group, made an advertisement on the spot for the Yangtze River Gold Cruise Line: JD's goods were on the Chongqing Yangtze River Gold Cruise Line 7, allowing tourists to enjoy convenience and benefits. The small shops on the cruise ship have become JD convenience stores, which not only reduce product prices but also enrich the variety of products. This transformation is just the beginning of Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise's upgrade. Jiang Zongjin, Chairman of Chongqing Yangtze River Golden Cruise Co., Ltd. and President of Chongqing Waterway Transport Industry Association, introduced that Chongqing is building a boutique cruise fleet for the Three Gorges tourism of the Yangtze River.

Yangtze River Three Gorges Cruise is welcoming new development opportunities

The Three Gorges cruise tourism route on the Yangtze River is one of the two international golden tourism routes that China first recommended to the world. At present, there are 12 ultra large luxury cruise ships with a length of over 130 meters in operation on the Yangtze River, including 7 Golden series cruise ships, 2 Century series cruise ships, 2 President series cruise ships, and 1 Yangtze River overseas cruise ship. Jiang Zongjin said that Yangtze River cruise ships have become the most leisure and comfortable vacation travel choice for Three Gorges tourism. In terms of tourism routes, the current luxury cruise ships in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River mainly focus on short-term boutique routes, namely Chongqing Yichang (3-4 days). On this basis, there are also composite medium to long routes such as Chongqing to Wuhan (5-6 days) and Shanghai (9-10 days).

Last year, the total reception volume of Yangtze River cruise ships was 560000 people. Among them, the average passenger capacity of Yangtze River luxury cruise ships is 75%, and the average passenger occupancy rate of Golden Cruise ships is 82%. This year, with the continuous increase in tourism popularity in Chongqing, the Three Gorges Cruise Line on the Yangtze River is also welcoming new development opportunities.

Jiang Zongjin analyzed that in addition to the unique resource and brand advantages of Yangtze River cruise ships, as well as a solid market foundation, local governments along the Yangtze River also attach great importance to the development of Yangtze River cruise tourism in the construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Chongqing, Hubei and other places have successively introduced a series of supporting policies to encourage the development of tourism, including cruise tourism. In addition, the close cooperation between the ship, scenery, and society, as well as industry associations' efforts to integrate resources, unify product models and operating methods, and promote industry self-discipline, have also brought new opportunities to the Yangtze River cruise market.

Upgrade and upgrade to create a premium cruise ship

How can Yangtze River cruise ships seize the development opportunities of Three Gorges tourism? Jiang Zongjin believes that the first step is to promote the upgrading of existing cruise ships. Establish an exit mechanism, transform and improve the quality of cruise ships according to new standards, and create a fleet of safe, environmentally friendly, comfortable, and high-quality Yangtze River Three Gorges boutique cruise ships. We need to vigorously develop new products for Yangtze River cruise tourism and attract more tourists, "said Jiang Zongjin. On the one hand, we need to continuously optimize the high-quality Yangtze River cruise tourism route products from Chongqing to Yichang, and focus on packaging this world-class inland river cruise tourism product. On the other hand, it is also necessary to develop Yangtze River cruise products from Chongqing to Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai and other places. In addition, Yangtze River Cruise will also focus on developing short-term cruise tourism products along the route from Chongqing to the Three Gorges Dam; Develop first-line cruise ships and integrated tours, deep tours, and lake tours along the Yangtze River; Develop a river sea integrated cruise tourism product that promotes cooperation between Yangtze River inland cruise ships and ocean cruise ships; Develop new tourism products that connect Yangtze River cruise ships with various tourist areas. In terms of deepening industry integration, Yangtze River Cruise will develop new tourism products that integrate cruise tourism with industrial tourism, rural tourism, educational tourism, exhibition tourism, business tourism, and other forms of tourism.

Constructing the Yangtze River Three Gorges International Golden Tourism Belt

Promote the upgrading of scenic spots along the Three Gorges Reservoir area, accelerate the development of hinterland resources on both sides, enrich the types of tourism products, expand the capacity of scenic spots, and expand tourism functions, comprehensively improve the quality of Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise tourism, build cruise tourism and vacation destinations, promote the full coverage of Three Gorges cruise ships to scenic spots along the river, tourist towns, and key scenic spots on both sides of the hinterland, and form a tourism development pattern of the Yangtze River Three Gorges connecting east and west, extending on both sides, and connecting cruise ships. Good routes also need good scenic spots to support them. Liu Qi, director of the Municipal Tourism Development Commission, said that in accordance with the requirements of large-scale projects and investment, Chongqing will promote the construction of hinterland scenic spots and tourism resource development on both sides of the Three Gorges Port, Wanzhou Tanzhang Gorge, Tiankeng Dijian, Wuxi Hongchi Dam, Yunyang Long. Accelerate the improvement of the integrated coordination mechanism, focus on promoting the integrated construction of the Fengjie Wushan Wuxi Yangtze River Three Gorges tourism golden triangle, and create globally attractive integrated tourism boutique routes and products. Develop low altitude, self driving, skiing, camping, hiking, mountain climbing exploration, scientific research, and study tours in the Three Gorges area, and enrich the types of tourism products.

Source: Chongqing Morning Post