Cruise supply chain risk mitigation strategies: An empirical study in Shanghai, China

Abstract

The cruise sector is one of the most characteristic examples of globalised business. This characteristic makes the cruise supply chain (CSC) likely to expose to a variety of risks, such as the geopolitical environment and inclement weather, which requires an urgent need for risk mitigation strategies. A review of the literature revealed that supply chain risk mitigation strategies often remain at a conceptual level, and they mainly focus on a specific risk or a perspective of a specific cruise sector; there is therefore a gap in the absence of practical risk mitigation strategies in the cruise industry from a supply chain perspective. To address the gap, this paper interviewed and analysed opinions of eight types of CSC players. Twenty risk mitigation strategies in the context of a CSC were identified and examined into control and detection, relationship-based strategies, marketing strategies, policy-based strategies, risk transfer and share, and flexibility strategies. A broad picture and a deep understanding of strategies to deal with risks in the CSC were provided. The findings contribute to the literature and practice by linking theoretical strategies to practical strategies and exploring the mitigation strategies with actual practice in the CSC that can be used directly by practitioners and researchers.