Asia is the fastest-growing cruise market in the world

The 2nd Global Cruise Tourism Conference was successfully concluded at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi, Malaysia.

The August 5 to 6 conference had a number of prominent speakers, including Mr. Farriek Tawfik (Director of South East Asia, Princess Cruise, Ms. Chin Ying Duan (Corporate Communication Manager, Singapore & SE Asia Royal Caribbean Cruises (Asia) Pte Ltd,), Mr. Oh Kean Shen (MD Pen Marine Sdn Bhd), Mr. Jassem Zaiton (Cruis Manager,DNATA), Mr. Grant Holmes (VP,Cruise Solutions, Inchape Shipping Services) Dato’ Isaac Alexander (CEO Tropical Charters), Mr. Hisham Awny (Tourism Manager, Kasr Al Baroun Travel), Mr. Wicky Sundram (Executive Dirctor Royal Langkawi Yacht Club), and Mr. Suhaimi Abd Ghafar (Managing Dirctor, Pelayaran Islamic).

The Malaysia Ministry of Transport was pleased with the two-day conference and suggests that GCTC 2017 shall combine with LIMA and WiTM to feature the Cruise and Maritime part.

Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism Dato’ Rashi Hasbullah officiated GCTC 2015 on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia and invited the WiTM Event be part of Malaysia Cruise Council (MCC).

The Malaysia government supports new port developments, infrastructure upgrades and improving costal towns and cities to make them more attractive as cruise destinations.

Mr. Saidi Bundan from Tourism Malaysia said that the Asian and international cruise market has been steadily growing by an average of 14 per cent annually over the past ten years.

Last year Asia became the fastest growing cruise market with increase numbers of 31.6 percent ahead of Australia at 22 percent, the Caribbean (12 percent) and Europe (5.2 percent). This number was released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).