Help wanted for cruise industry

Shortage of professionals rocks China's ocean and river travel industry

Wanderlust linked to the rising disposable income of the vast middle class of China has created humongous opportunities for the country's cruise, yacht and water tourism companies, but the massive demand-supply gap in specialist human resources is threatening to drown them.

China is already the world's fastest-growing cruise market. By the end of the year, Chinese will have bought 1.95 million outbound cruise trips, accounting for more than 50 percent of the Asian cruise market, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.