Seatrade Cruise Asia to explore key developments, region's potential

Predictions on the future of cruising in Asia, updates on infrastructure, information on crewing, and insights on off-the-beaten-path destinations are some of the areas to be addressed. 

The full conference programme for the event, which takes place November 12-13 at the Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, and co-located with Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, can now be viewed along with other useful details on the event and discount options. 

The schedule includes: 

State of the industry, crewing, expedition

The ‘State of the Asian Cruise Industry Keynote’ will take place on day one, anchored by the theme 'Advancing Asia's Cruise Future.’ Industry leaders will discuss strategic approaches and emerging opportunities poised to drive the expansion of Asia’s cruise market over the next decade. It will additionally explore the outlook for both international cruise operators and regional players, examining current deployments, future plans, and shifts in successful source markets for 2023-24. 

A presentation on data and trends will follow as part of the ‘Resurgence of Asia's Cruise Source Markets: Overview & Future Outlook.’  

Preceding the above will be the ‘Cruise Connect X Seatrade Cruise - Opening Keynote’ and ‘Cruise Connect X Seatrade Cruise - Attracting and Training the Next Generation of Cruise Industry Talent.’ Hosted in collaboration with Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, they will focus on the future of talent acquisition and training in the cruise industry, responsible for employing nearly 300,000 seafarers from around the world. 

‘Cruise Tourism Developments in Southeast Asia’ takes place mid-afternoon, bringing together key stakeholders as they highlight best practices, opportunities and challenges, and provide insights into the strategies needed to sustain and enhance growth in the coming years. 

‘Expedition & Boutique Cruising in Asian Waters’ rounds off the day, offering crucial insights into the potential of expedition cruising in the Asia-Pacific region. As well as focusing on the rising demand from regional source markets for these unique experiences, it will address the barriers to entry and operational challenges faced by small ships in Asian waters, emphasising the potential for destinations with limited infrastructure to tap into this segment. 

Synergies continue with the Seatrade Cruise Asia Networking Reception in the evening.   

Shore excursions, port infrastructure, cruise hubs 

Day two begins with ‘CIQ Considerations for Cruise Tourism,’ examining essential customs, immigration, and quarantine considerations in Asia, followed by ‘Financing Cruise Development & Port Infrastructure’ looking at the critical aspects of financing cruise development and port infrastructure in Asia. 

In contrast, ‘Developing Destination Experiences in Emerging Destinations’ explores the complexities of developing successful and sustainable destination experiences in Asia's emerging cruise hotspots. Participants will learn how to design shore programs that align with sustainable growth, preserving the cultural and environmental integrity of these areas. 

‘Navigating ESG in Asia’s Cruise Market’ is set to outline the ESG framework and its critical considerations for stakeholders in the region, emphasising the cruise industry’s commitment to a sustainable future and the shared goal of achieving net-zero operations by 2050. 

Midafternoon sees ‘Selling Cruises Outbound from Asian Cruise Hubs’ deliver an in-depth look at selling small-ship and high-premium cruises outbound from key Asian cruise hubs. 

India

India's burgeoning wealth and large population offer a unique opportunity for cruise tourism, as the ‘Unlocking India's Cruise Tourism Potential’ session will investigate. With a record-breaking 470,000 cruise tourists in the 2023-24 financial year – 80% of them domestic – India’s cruise sector is set for substantial growth, supported by the government’s ambitious target of attracting 4m cruise tourists by 2041.

Return to cruising in East Asia

A look back at the revival of cruise operations in East Asia since 2023 follows in the ‘Resumption of Cruise Operations in East Asia’ panel, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges. It will address how the rapid development of East Asia's cruise industry, previously driven by international operators, is now seeing a shift with emerging domestic cruise lines becoming major players. 

With new regional cruise lines and ships on order, it will probe the outlook for both regional and international deployments in the coming years will and the implications for cruise lines and customers.