Cruise industry ‘vital’ for Asia says Patricia Yuen, HKTB’s director, cruise

Hong Kong is a member of the Asia Cruise Cooperation alliance, along with South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and Xiamen. At Seatrade Cruise Global in April, these destinations (excl. Taiwan) combined their efforts with the aim of encouraging more ships to return to the region. ‘Since the launch of the ACC in 2014, the member destinations have taken a multitude of initiatives to promote the destinations within the region, including B2B and B2C…,’ said Yuen.

‘At Seatrade Cruise Global, we co-hosted a luncheon for the cruise lines, port operations executives, itinerary planners, and cruise media. This event served as a one-stop platform for cruise lines and media to get updates from four major cruise destinations in Asia. Besides, this has enabled participating destinations to interact with cruise lines and key industry players to exchange insights, foster valuable partnerships and the development of Asian cruise itineraries.’

This luncheon stemmed from ‘fruitful and insightful discussion’ on regional cooperation that arose during last year's Seatrade Cruise Asia in Hong Kong, which attracted over 300 attendees from 27 countries/regions, including executives from 20 cruise brands. 

At Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024, Yuen looks forward to ‘another in-depth discussion among the partners, as well as with the cruise lines in driving deployment and cruise consumer demand in the region.’

On Oct. 26, 2023 at Seatrade Cruise Asia, Hong Kong: (L-R) Mr. Hwang, deputy director of marine leisure tourism for Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and his translator; Paulo Tugbang, director, the Philippines Department of Tourism; Kenneth Wong, GM, MICE and cruise for the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Wendy Yamazaki, regional VP, Royal Caribbean Group; Tiger Yong, government affairs, China, MSC Group; Dickson Chin, MD, Wallem Ship Agency (Credit: HKTB)

The Philippines

Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024 takes place November 12-13 at the Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, the Philippines, co-located with Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global.

‘The Philippines is one of the key sources of crew supply, famous for its exotic cruise ports covered in many grand Asia and world cruise itineraries,’ Yuen explained. ‘The event can let the delegates experience the warm hospitality of the Philippines but also provide a platform for the region's cruise destinations to showcase their unique offerings and network with industry stakeholders.

‘It presents a valuable opportunity to meet with cruise lines and gain insights into the concerns and planning in this region.’

Regional challenges

With the pressing need to drive the recovery of the cruise industry in Asia in the wake of the pandemic, HKTB believes that collaboration between destinations should not be limited to the existing alliances within the ACC. ‘We understand that the varied visa policy and immigration clearance procedures across the region is still one of the key concerns on cruise lines’ minds when deploying ships to Asia,’ observed the director for cruise.  

‘European Union countries have a common visa policy that enables hassle-free travel [but] the visa policies throughout Asian countries are quite diverse. Cruise passengers travelling on Asia itineraries often face different visa requirements at each port. Because of this, it is crucial for destinations to communicate closely with cruise lines on the latest visa policies and entry requirements to ensure smooth and seamless travel experiences for cruise visitors.’

She said the cruise industry offers a substantial economic boost for the region, concluding, ‘The cruise industry fosters economic growth by creating employment opportunities in various sectors such as cruise terminal operations, provisioning, travel agencies, ground handling, and more. This not only boosts job creation but also enhances the skill development of the local workforce. Meanwhile, the coming of cruise ships brings substantial tourist spending to the region, benefiting local business in accommodations, shopping, dining, sightseeing and other local businesses.'