Analysis of the river cruise network in Southeast Asia: A complex network approach

Abstract

River cruise shipping is a tourism sectors which tends to have rapid growth. This study analyzes the structural properties and connectivity of the river cruise network and cruise ports by using complex network analysis. By analyzing 257 river cruise voyages operated by 5 cruise lines in Southeast Asia, this study shows that the network consists of 31 cruise ports, connected by 94 cruise routes. A small number of ports play a central role in connecting to other ports in the network. The network has a short average path length and a low clustering coefficient. Siem Reap, Koh Chen, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, and Thanh Pho Ninh Binh are hubs with high connectivity. Siem Reap also plays an intermediary role, and has high reachability with other ports in the network, with the highest betweenness and closeness centralities. The findings of this study are useful for cruise lines and cruise port authorities for improvement of their operations and service network. Highlights  Empirical analysis has allowed understand the structural properties of the river cruise network and ports A complex network analysis approach is applied to analyse the river cruise network River cruise ports play different roles based on centrality measures