Cruise Conference Notes Asia Port Infrastructure Shortfall
Second annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific conference opens in Singapore with State of Asia Cruise Industry panel discussions. Gianni Onorato, president of Costa Crociere, noted that port infrastructure in Asia is still lacking, along with consumer education. "The major issue here is to explain what cruising is to the customers," said Onorato. "The second challenge is how to offer destinations and itineraries that can be reached in a competitive way cost-wise. We have a number of major homeports in the region, but they need other ports of call that are able to accommodate ships. Today, this is not the case and one of the major obstacles to growth. Onorato noted that since 2006, Costa has invested tens of millions of euros in China in distribution and advertising.
Asian Nations Push for More Exposure in Cruise Market
The Port of Shanghai is getting a new cruise passenger terminal. Southeast Asian nations are teaming up on a Web site for cruise travelers. Officials from China are using the 2008 Olympics to promote a triangle of northern cruise ports. And don't forget about us, says Taiwan. Here's Asia, cruising's new frontier. Accordng to The Ledger, representatives from the Asia-Pacific region attended the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference this week, beginning an aggressive marketing campaign with the goal of making Asia a competitor in the world cruise market. Many of them toured ports in Miami and Port Everglades to get a sense of U.S. port operations. Today, the Asia-Pacific region lags behind the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska in notoriety as a cruise destination.
