MIAMI: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Cruise Working Group launched its cruise portal www.CruiseASEAN.com at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami.
The portal provides information on 10 Southeast Asian cruise destinations including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the next growth area in the cruise industry. It is predicted that cruise passengers in the Asia Pacific region will grow by more than 40 per cent from 1.07 million in 2005, to 1.5 million by 2010, reaching 2 million in 2015 1.
Asia currently holds a five per cent share of the world’s cruise market.
Singapore Tourism Board executive Kevin Leong, chairman of the ASEAN Cruise Working Group, said: “We have a two-year plan which is aimed at strengthening and catalysing the growth of the region’s cruise industry.
“Our priorities are to introduce Asian cruising to the world and ensure that we have the systems in place to welcome our guests.”
The ASEAN Cruise Working Group will also provide relevant training for travel agents to equip them with the cruise product knowledge.
Other areas of co-operation include infrastructure development, marketing and promotion and human resource development.
Michael Dupont, European sales and marketing director for Star Cruises, the only cruise line with year-round South East Asian itineraries, said, “Bringing travellers to Singapore from around the world to combine cruises with city breaks in the destination is a key area of growth for Star Cruises.”
Singapore’s S$10 million Singapore Fly-Cruise Development
Fund, launched in May 2006, is designed to encourage major international cruise companies to partner Singapore in product development and marketing initiatives.
It is being used to promote products to in-market travel agents as well as to fund promotions and publicity. The fund was set up jointly by the Singapore Tourism Board, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Cruise Centre.
“The creation of the Fly Cruise Development Fund is a strong signal to the cruise community of Singapore’s commitment to growing the cruise business in the region,” said Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman and chief executive, STB.
“The fund will enable Singapore to partner more cruise operators and encourage them to deploy their ships to our part of the world.”
