Cruise homeport location selection evaluation based on grey-cloud clustering model

Ma, Ming; Fan, Houming; Zhang, En-Ying

doi:10.1080/13683500.2015.1083951

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Cruise emerges as a hybrid form of tourism and transportation. The supply and demand of the cruise product are subjected to individual and strategic choices of several actors, both at local and global scale (Ma et al, 2015;Pallis, 2015). The basic actors of cruise industry and their interactions are presented in Figure 2.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, the demand for homeporting activity is subjected to both ports' capacity and hinterland attractiveness. This means that the demand of ports of call is mainly generated by cruise passengers, and the demand for homeports is driven by both cruise passengers and cruise liners (Ma et al, 2015). Taking into account the aforementioned, for a port to realize its full potential for cruise homeporting, both its internal characteristics as well as the characteristics of its direct hinterland should be analyzed in an integrated context.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, Ma et al (2015) have used a grey-cloud clustering model to evaluate the potential of nine Asian ports in becoming cruise homeports using quantitative and qualitative factors. Different data sources were used for quantitative factors, while experts' judgements were used to evaluate the ports' records regarding the qualitative factors.…”

Section: Case Of Mediterranean Portsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The target of establishing a homeport traffic is subject to a variety of port internal and external factors (Lekakou et al, 2009). The potential of becoming a homeport is highly related to the port's ability to provide the most comprehensive services to cruise ships, their crews and passengers, as well as to the ability of the port's hinterland to ensure that cruise-related activities, such as the accommodation of passengers, the provision of cruise ships supplies and inland transportation are also adequately provided (Ma et al, 2015). Apart from these factors, the geographical position of a cruise port in relation to others is also playing a significant role in liners' decisions (McCalla, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first pillar has a geographical dimension which is shaped by the physical position of the port. A position near to other cruise ports is expected to enhance cruise companies target for cost minimization due to reduced distances among the ports included in their trip loop (Lekakou et al, 2009;Ma et al, 2015). On the other hand, the connectivity of ports has also a managerial dimension which is reflected on the ability of port authorities to establish strong cooperation channels with cruise companies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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An empirical model for assessing the effect of ports’ and hinterlands’ characteristics on homeports’ potential

Niavis

Vaggelas

2016

MABR

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Purpose The significant benefits associated with cruise tourism have mobilized port industry, as progressively, a large number of ports are developing cruise operations. Although increasing cruise traffic is a major goal for cruise ports, homeporting constitutes a strategic target of the majority of ports due to its greater economic benefits for both the port itself and its hinterland. The establishment of homeport traffic in a cruise port is subjected to a variety of port internal and external factors. Taking these into account, the paper aims at defining elements that affect the potential of a cruise port to become a homeport. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 47 Mediterranean ports is selected to form the basis for the implementation of an ordinal regression model which links the likelihood of ports to attract homeport traffic with seven explanatory variables which emerged from relevant literature and are split in the main categories of ports’ and hinterlands’ characteristics. To fit the model into the paper’s data, ports are divided into three categories based on their homeport cruise traffic. Findings The results of the empirical model signify that both internal and external factors affect the potential of a port to become a cruise homeport. Concerning the internal factors, adequate infrastructure allowing the facilitation of the last generation of cruise ships and the presence of a private enterprise in ports’ operation seems to foster homeport traffic. Additionally, efficiency in operations seems to be a crucial element. On the other hand, the connectivity of port’s; hinterlands, tourist infrastructure and the level of economic growth are proved to be the hinterlands’ elements which increase the likelihood of a port to attract additional homeport traffic. Practical implications The model forms a comprehensive evaluation basis for whether a cruise port should intensify its pursuit of homeport traffic, as the estimated coefficients could support port and local authorities to understand their competitive position against other ports and spot their strengths and weaknesses. Originality/value The paper contributes in the research dealing with the identification of crucial elements of homeporting from the port’s point of view. Although, it should be mentioned that previous efforts targeting on revealing the characteristics affecting the homeporting potential of ports mostly have been based on questionnaires and expert judgements or empirical models in which the total – and not the homeport traffic – was used as the dependent variable. With the proposed empirical model, home-porting choice analysis is transferred, on the one hand, from the stated preferences level to the revealed preferences level and, on the other hand, from an indirect to a direct approximation of the issue.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Case Of Mediterranean Portsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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