Fundamental Shifts of Cruise Shipping in the Post-COVID-19 Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously influenced cruise tourism and global businesses, which is a new variant that poses unpredictable issues for the cruise industry. This study investigates fundamental shifts in cruise shipping after the pandemic using the CRUISE PORT framework by conducting 18 semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The results show that port connectivity is the most significant factor in promoting ports as hubs. Regional competitiveness is important to sustain the cruise industry. Some ports face a low utilization rate due to cruise lines changing their itineraries and visiting low-risk ports. Cruise ports can rebuild competitiveness by improving their infrastructures. Security became the prime concern, while environmental management is not the main priority and the deciding factor in reviving the industry. A port of call is a significant factor in fostering the industry's development. The pandemic does not generate any significant issues for cruise lines in terms of ocean conditions. Recreational activities can help cruise lines to attract more passengers, and cruise traffic is a driving force to improve port competitiveness. The findings are drawn implications for the cruise sector, port authorities, and stakeholders to improve their operations and services.

Effects of COVID-19 on maritime industry: a review.

COVID-19 is a global disease that has quickly shaken the world economy since the beginning of 2020 and consequently has significantly affected the shipping industries development (including shipping operators, port operators, government authorities, shippers, seafarers, passengers, supply chain operators, etc.). Currently, the clinical management of COVID-19 remains unclear. In order to understand the newest challenges and figure out potential solutions for the maritime industries post COVID-19, this paper selected four shipping industries (including dry bulk, tanker, container, and cruiser sector) and reviewed these industries' newest development. The research findings can strengthen the awareness of COVID-19 and reduce operational risk and further improve business performance for the maritime related industries and authorities.

Built environment and the metropolitan pandemic: Analysis of the COVID-19 spread in Hong Kong.

The COVID-19 reported initially in December 2019 led to thousands and millions of people infections, deaths at a rapid scale, and a global scale. Metropolitans suffered serious pandemic problems as the built environments of metropolitans contain a large number of people in a relatively small area and allow frequent contacts to let virus spread through people's contacting with each other. The spread inside a metropolitan is heterogeneous, and we propose that the spatial variation of built environments has a measurable association with the spread of COVID-19. This paper is the pioneering work to investigate the missing link between the built environment and the spread of the COVID-19. In particular, we intend to examine two research questions: (1) What are the association of the built environment with the risk of being infected by the COVID-19? (2) What are the association of the built environment with the duration of suffering from COVID-19? Using the Hong Kong census data, confirmed cases of COVID-19 between January to August 2020 and large size of built environment sample data from the Hong Kong government, our analysis are carried out. The data is divided into two phases before (Phase 1) and during the social distancing measure was relaxed (Phase 2). Through survival analysis, ordinary least squares analysis, and count data analysis, we find that (1) In Phase 1, clinics and restaurants are more likely to influence the prevalence of COVID-19. In Phase 2, public transportation (i.e. MTR), public market, and the clinics influence the prevalence of COVID-19. (2) In Phase 1, the areas of tertiary planning units (i.e., TPU) with more restaurants are found to be positively associated with the period of the prevalence of COVID-19. In Phase 2, restaurants and public markets induce long time occurrence of the COVID-19. (3) In Phase 1, restaurant and public markets are the two built environments that influence the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases. In Phase 2, the number of restaurants is positively related to the number of COVID-19 reported cases. It is suggested that governments should not be too optimistic to relax the necessary measures. In other words, the social distancing measure should remain in force until the signals of the COVID-19 dies out.