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

Authors

  • Maneerat Kanrak Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, Nong Khai 43000, Thailand
  • Saksuriya Traiyarach Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
  • Cheewanan Wuttipan Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, Nong Khai 43000, Thailand
  • Yui-yip Lau Division of Business and Hospitality Management, College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
  • Jingen Zhou Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Launceston 7248, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2023.261548

Keywords:

River cruise, Network analysis, Hub ports, Port connectivity, Complex network analysis

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

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Published

2023-01-16

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2023): April - June

Section

Article

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