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