The Asia Cruise Association would sure like to think so. Seeing Asia as the next big area for cruise vacation growth, Cruise Shipping Asia, a conference and exhibition in Singapore this November aims to.
Cruise Shipping Asia 2011 will include a trade show and conference program focusing on the Asian cruise market. The exhibition will feature destinations, itinerary planning, shore excursion services, port and terminal development as well as ship operations, ship services and hotel operations.
“With 22 new cruise ships set for delivery by 2012, cruise lines are seeking fresh markets to help absorb that 17.4 percent increase – 51,306 berths,” said Michael Duck, senior vice president of trade show promoter UBM Asia. “They are currently eying Asia as a largely untapped resource.”
It was not all that long ago that European cruise markets were looking for more cruise ships and cruise lines answered that call. Recent years have seen the largest ever deployment of ships to the more profitable waters of Europe for some cruise lines.
Flickr Photo by jjcb
As mobile assets, cruise lines are able to move ships to where the money is. The recent exodus from the US West coast market by cruise lines is a good example. In December, Gadling told you about Norwegian Cruise Line announcing the deployment of 4 ships to Europe in 2012 and 2013, their largest deployment ever.
The Asian market is already in love with cruise vacations, accounting for a growing percentage of cruise passengers already. Will Singapore replace Miami as the cruise capitol of the world? Hard to say but it’s the latest new market on the horizon. It sure would make an interesting port of call though.