Asean plans to boost cruise tourism

Cruise tourism, encompassing incentive and other MICE sectors as well as the middle to upmarket leisure market, is on the increase in ASEAN waters.More foreign-flagged ships are evident in the region, both marquee and second-tier ports are looking to enhancements and national tourist offices are determined to seize the opportunity to take things a big step further.

Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in conjunction with ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011, the region’s tourism ministers gave a thumbs-up to NTO discussions which cover the feasibility of increased collaboration on cruise tourism.This is likely to see more collective promotion, as well as regional consultation on improving facilities, lobbying ship operators and developing more shore-based activities, including open-jaw sectors.

Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this week in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2011), regional tourism ministers confirmed that the ASEAN Cruise Working Group would co-locate individual country booths at several major international cruise trade shows.This strategy will kick off at Cruise Shipping Miami 2011 (March 14-17), while other key collaborative events will include Cruise Shipping Asia 2011 in November.

The ministers noted that Southeast Asia held great potential for cruise tourism, saying that the joint marketing efforts would strengthen the region’s share of mind among key decision-makers in the cruise industry.Singapore is one port to have recorded a significant increase in foreign cruise visits and is expecting to build on this in the next Asian cruise season when AIDA Cruises begins using a larger 2500 passenger vessel, ‘AIDAdiva’, in the region.

Current AIDA Cruises vessels have contributed heavily to the recent increase in regional cruise business, as have ships operated by Hapag Lloyd, P&O and Compagnie du Ponant.  Among other operators active in ASEAN waters are Cunard and Silversea.

Source = impactpub.com.au