Insight into New Tourism Opportunities: Starriver Cruises Creates a New "Voyage" Miracle for Inland River Cruises

In 2019, high-quality in-depth travel became the keyword for European tourism.

By taking visitors deep into the attractions along the route, inland river cruises offered the most convenient way for travelers who enjoy in-depth exploration.

Over the past two years, as European inland river cruises have grown increasingly popular, market demand has risen sharply.

On March 21, the Starriver Cruises 2020 Product Launch & Maiden Voyage Ceremony was held in Shanghai.

It attracted widespread attention from mainstream media and travel agency peers in Shanghai, with around 300 guests attending the event. 

Ms. Feng Lian, Founder of Starriver Brand, Chairman and General Manager of Beijing Hengtai International Travel Service Co., Ltd.

Ms. Feng Lian, Chairman and General Manager of Beijing Hengtai International Travel Service Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Hengtai International Travel”) and Founder of the Starriver brand, stated:“European inland river cruises are limited by regional factors, and the market, especially for Chinese consumers, has not been fully satisfied in a timely manner. This has led to an increasingly long pre‑sales cycle. For example, our launch event today is already promoting products for 2020.

In my view, European inland river cruise products will enter a phase of steady growth over the next five years, with a market where demand exceeds supply. I am very optimistic about this sector, and it is exactly the golden period for us to implement our five‑year plan of operating seven vessels.

Starriver is currently in a stage of rapid development. Our strengths come from a complete and comprehensive system: from the domestic sales network, to air ticket resources in the middle segment, to the management of our own vessels overseas. We have formed a closed‑loop golden industrial chain.“I can say with confidence that this is unique in the entire river cruise industry and cannot be replicated in the short term.”

Founded in 2016, Starriver Cruises is a Chinese company that owns vessels operating on European inland rivers. It has branches and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Basel, Budapest, Malta and other cities.

Adhering to the business philosophy of “Upgrading the Way of Travel, Realizing the Dream of Journey” and with the mission of “Providing more sophisticated cruise travel services for Chinese and global consumers”, the brand has firmly established itself as a leading player in China’s European inland river cruise sector.

Building on its exclusive ship charters and maritime operations over the past three years, Starriver Cruises successfully completed the acquisition of the MS Artistry in 2018, marking the first appearance of Chinese capital in the European river cruise market.

In 2019, it signed a contract to build its first ultra‑luxury 5‑star vessel tailored specifically for the Chinese market. The new ship is scheduled to launch in 2021.Over the next five years, the company plans to gradually build a fleet of 7 ships, achieving full coverage of major European inland waterways including the Rhine, Danube and Volga.

Starriver Cruises is committed to developing a full industrial chain integrating tourism product design, cultural tourism industry and coastal attraction development, further consolidating its position as the leader in China’s European inland river cruise market.

Our reporter found that the majority of customers for river cruises belong to the mid-to-high-end consumer group. Most have prior overseas travel experience, and many have even visited popular Western European countries.They are not primary tourists who only seek to “take photos when getting off the bus and sleep upon arrival.” Instead, they are people who pursue culture and history, have a passion for life, and prioritize high-quality travel experiences.

The age group is mainly middle-aged and elderly travelers aged 45 and above, which forms the core consumer base for inland river cruises.

In 2019, Starriver Cruises will roll out a series of promotional events across China to strengthen its service quality. The main formats include press conferences, on-site promotions and cultural salons, together with targeted advertising in selected regions.

At the same time, the brand will increase marketing support for key partners, so that we can jointly promote the Starriver brand, help more people learn about Starriver Cruises, and fall in love with this way of travel. Starriver Cruises will work hand in hand with travel agency partners and travelers to seize new opportunities in the tourism industry!