Is Asia Australia’s next source market? The 2015 Cruise Down Under conference, which takes place next week in Darwin, will be the platform for a number of critical discussions around the future of the cruise industry, one of which is whether Asia will be our next major source market. Star...
Is Asia Australia’s
next source market?
The 2015 Cruise Down Under
conference, which takes place next
week in Darwin, will be the platform
for a number of critical discussions
around the future of the cruise
industry, one of which is whether
Asia will be our next major source
market.
Star Cruises announced recently
that it was returning to the
Australian market for the first
time in 10 years (CW 26 May) with
SuperStar Virgo embarking on a
48-day round trip from Hong Kong
in November calling at more than
20 ports. The itinerary will visit five
Australian states and showcase the
WA ports of Geraldton, Fremantle
and Albany plus key cities including
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
SuperStar Virgo will carry up to
2,500 passengers, all visiting from
Asian markets. If the itinerary is
successful, it’s likely more cruise
lines will follow. Indeed Norwegian
Cruise Lines is already planning
a return to Asia in December
2016 and onto Australia and New
Zealand from January 2017.
As an industry we are getting a
better understanding of what the
Asian traveller is looking for when
they come to Australia, but how
is this different for cruisers? Are
Asian cruisers big spenders? What
shore excursions do they enjoy? Are
they water lovers? What cultural
experiences are they looking for?
These, and many more questions,
will be put to CDU Conference
speakers including Michael
Hackman from Star Cruises, and
Asian expert Dwain Wall.
There are still a few places
available and we hope to see you
there! For details and to register see
www.cruisedownunder.com.
