Singapore Tourism Board focusing on Cruise Tourism to attract more Indian tourists

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is focusing on Cruise Tourism to attract more Indian tourists. This decision has been taken as Indian visitors have emerged among top cruise lovers with Singapore receiving an estimated 38,000 Indian cruise visitors last year. This includes not only holidaymakers but even Indian companies who have included a cruise leg in their varied incentive schemes. According to a report in Economic Times, as per the Ocean Shipping Consultants, Asia expects 44 per cent growth in cruise passengers by 2010. By 2015, the number of Asian cruise passenger is expected to hit 2.02 million, an 88.79 per cent increase over ten years, making the cruise sector one of the fastest-growing segments in the tourism industry. Singapore is set to acquire 21 per cent of the market with an expected 1.6 million cruise passengers by 2015. To support this goal, Singapore’s international cruise infrastructure will double in capacity with the opening of the new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South which will become operational in 2010. The Singapore government is looking to support and develop the cruise sector industry through its USD ten million Singapore Fly-Cruise Development Fund (FCDF) that was launched in 2006. “India is a key market for the cruising industry and we will continue to focus our efforts on promoting cruise holidays in India,” said Randall Tan, Regional Director, South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Singapore Tourism Board. Toh Sork Lee, Area Director, Western India, Singapore Tourism Board said, “Singapore is the top outbound travel destination for Indians. In 2008, India ranked as the fourth largest visitor source market with approximately 778,000 visitors which constitute 7.6 per cent of the total visitor arrivals.” In 2009, Singapore Tourism Board is expecting an estimated nine -9.5 million in visitor arrivals from all over world and USD12 – USD12.5 billion in tourism receipts.

Source: - www.travelbismonitor.com

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