Cruising in Southeast Asia
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has signed a three-year partnership deal with global cruise industry trade organisation Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), with the intention of promoting and expanding the burgeoning cruise industry in Singapore and, more widely, Southeast Asia. The partnership will see various initiatives put into action, including travel agent training, destination-specific marketing, regional port development and the exchange of tips for regulatory and technical best practice. It is the first partnership of its kind between CLIA and an Asian national tourism organisation, but a timely one – according to CLIA’s most recent Asia Cruise Trends report, nearly 20 per cent of Asian cruise passengers come from Southeast Asia.
Priority markets for the first year of the agreement will be India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“STB is pleased to enter into a partnership with CLIA that is both meaningful and strategic,” said Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board. “As Southeast Asia’s cruise industry is still in a nascent stage of growth, this partnership draws on CLIA’s expertise, networks and platforms, as well as STB’s strong understanding of regional travel trade and market nuances, to shape and spur growth in this region. We look forward to working closely with CLIA to develop Southeast Asia as a vibrant cruise destination.”