Panelists highlight need for regional cooperation during Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific

The cooperation and support of each ACC member is especially important as regulatory challenges persist in Asia. 

These were some of the key points to emerge during the ‘Regional Cooperation: Navigating Challenges & Unity’ panel at Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific (October 24-26) in Hong Kong, moderated by Wallem Ship Agency MD Dickson Chin. 

Regulatory challenges and promoting stability

Wendy Yamazaki, regional VP, Royal Caribbean Group, called for standardisation, which she said is 'probably many years down the road… a Schengen [style] visa is probably the most ideal scenario that we can dream of.

‘It's not just standardisation across countries – standardisation within a country would help us a lot. 

‘In my work, I find myself many times having to deal with…many different regulations and processes among the ports in one country.’ 

Yamazaki also highlighted a need for transparency, consistency and predictability. 

Tiger Yong, government affairs, China, MSC Group, stated, ‘We keep talking to China, South Korea and Japan about the importance of collaboration, and regional cooperation and integration, and the unique role cruise can play to promote peace and stability for the region.’  

Paulo Benito S. Tugbang, product and market development, tourism development sector, Philippines Department of Tourism, praised the ACC, noting it was beneficial that tourism boards were given a voice, since ‘there's a need for soft power to be able to influence decision makers within a specific destination - to be able to pass legislation or policies that enable cruise to be a viable industry in the country,’ so they can ‘push the paper’ for standardising policies. 

Opportunities in the region

Kenneth Wong, GM, MICE and cruise for the Hong Kong Tourism Board said, ‘As long as the members are committed, I do not see many challenges.’ He spoke of Asia’s potential, referencing ‘very exciting terminal plans’ in the Philippines and the ‘huge opportunity’ that arises from Hong Kong being connected to 86m potential customers in the Greater Bay Area.

Enter Asia Cruise forums have been hosted in Korea to identify the needs of cruise lines and facilitate dialogue on how to address challenges. 

‘The ACC has been committed to boosting or reinvigorating regional cooperation,’ Mr. Hwang, deputy director of marine leisure tourism for Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, remarked. ‘After COVID-19, the situation facing cruise lines has been dramatically changed and the circumstances of the ports of call have changed. 

‘Against this new backdrop, we need to think about how to continue to engage cruise lines so that they can be brought back into the Asia cruise market. 

‘And we need to think about how to procedurally cooperate among ACC members and how to develop content together, and how to promote a sales strategy…together.’ 

Korea is the newest member of the ACC, joining October 2017, and has been able to ‘expand its horizons’ through membership, according to Hwang, who said it means being able to generate content and promotional activity collaboratively ‘leaving no members behind.’