Southeast Asia’s proximity to Australia is working in Singapore’s favour with more Aussies visiting the country by sea than ever before.
Speaking to KarryOn in Sydney earlier this month, Singapore Tourism Board‘s (STB) John Gregory Conceicao admitted that while overall arrivals from Australia were down four percent last year, the number of cruise passenger arrivals is growing.
The destination grabbed a large share of the 55,399 Aussies that cruised to Asia last year. And it’s no surprise, considering Singapore is the hub of cruising in Southeast Asia, playing host to the majority of major cruise ships visiting the region, including Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess.
The Lion City also acts as the embarkation port during P&O Cruises’ Southeast Asian itineraries, which take Australians straight from their doorstep to the heart of Singapore.
Additionally, Conceicao said Australians are booking fly in/fly out itineraries, where they arrive in Singapore via aircraft, cruise and then fly out.
“Fly in/fly out is a strategy that we want to promote because as a hub for aviation we get a lot of people coming here via plane.”
John Gregory Conceicao, STB Executive Director of International Group Planning in Oceania
“We’re working with our counterparts back in STB headquarters to develop cruising further.
“It’s something we’re very excited about.”
In addition to creating new packages to get Aussies cruising to and from the destination, Conceicao said the government is also looking at working closer with its ASEAN neighbours to develop new cruise ports around the region.
Currently, Singapore has agreements in place with Thailand Vietnam, Conceicao revealed there’s also another Memorandum of Understanding in the works with Indonesia. Further information will be revealed in time.
“We’re working with them specifically for cruise development and opening of new cruise ports.”
John Gregory Conceicao, STB Executive Director of International Group Planning in Oceania
