Cruising
Cruise tourism in Southeast Asia generates US$10 billion in total economic output
15/04/2026 by WiT
Southeast Asia's cruise industry demonstrated strong economic value in 2024, generating US$10 billion (S$12.9 billion) in total output representing 5% of global cruise industry output. The region delivered US$2,564 (S$3,308) per passenger visit - 2.4 times the global average per passenger, despite o [...]
Cruising goes digital: Complexity, connectivity and the human touch
18/09/2025 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Did you know that in 2009, online travel penetration in APAC was just 17.4%? By 2025, it has surged to 65.4%. The growth is huge. Cruise, however, has always been the laggard. Flights, hotels, tours and activities all went online earlier. Cruise, with its complexity, was the last holdout. That� [...]
From cruises to soba tours, experiences on fire
26/06/2025 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
“The tours and activities sector is having a breakout moment.” That’s how Yuki Hayashi, CTO of VELTRA, opened panel on “Tours & Activities On A Rising Tide” at WiT Japan & North Asia 2025. And judging by the numbers and ideas flying across the stage, he’s not exaggerating. Tou [...]
How Goldjoy Travel found its sweet spot in the online cruise market
10/10/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Panel at Cruise World Asia tackles “how to bulletproof your travel agency business with technology” Cognizant of the trend of consumers going online to book their flights and hotels, second generation travel agency owner, Dr Frederick Yip, of Goldjoy Travel, Hong Kong, decided to do a little [...]
Live-streaming Thailand. Flying Returns goes cruising. Unravelling RTW. More.
23/08/2024 by Ian Jarrett
Trip.com, TAT go live in Bangkok The Tourism Authority of Thailand and key business partners were on hand when Trip.com launched its Asia Live Streaming Centre, a marketing initiative which the company says will “revolutionise the way partners and consumers connect to boost the tourism industry� [...]
Sabre adds protection. MSC Cruises’ mission with emissions. Garuda offers SmartRyde.
08/08/2024 by Ian Jarrett
Sabre bonds with Protect Group Sabre says a long-term partnership with Protect Group, a provider of trip protection and guarantee services, will provide hotel guests with increased peace of mind when booking their stays. Hotels using SynXis Booking Engine can offer Protect Group's trip protectio [...]
‘MICE events on cruises’ an emerging trend in Asia, and Royal Caribbean is riding the wave
18/06/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
“We have a marketing partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and Changi Airport enabling us to reach MICE buyers during the months outside of peak family holiday groups,” says RCI’s Diane Chiang According to a recent study by Mordor Intelligence, bleisure travel, a burgeoning trend where emp [...]
Luxury liner anchors in Port Klang, Malaysia’s first international cruise homeport
22/01/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
New collaboration eyes Malaysia’s growing Muslim market and leverages the country’s strategic location in the region Costa Cruises, known for its European luxury cruising, and Hwajing Travel & Tours, a Southeast Asian cruise tour operator, have joined forces to make history at Port Klang by [...]
Murray River Paddlesteamers enhances operations through partnership with Tour Amigo
10/11/2023 by WiT
Murray River Paddlesteamers, a key player in regional (Victoria, Australia) river cruises, has teamed up with Tour Amigo to enhance operational efficiency and customer service. Murray River Paddlesteamers made the decision to transition to a new technology partner because their existing system, whi [...]
Game over for Metaverse? 2024 travel hacks. Good airport AI. SITA cruises with Costa.
27/10/2023 by Ian Jarrett
Flight booking worse than the dentist? Expedia's 2024 Air Travel Hacks Report What could be worse than going to the dentists? Or filing tax returns? Try booking a flight, survey of 1,000 Singapore flyers by Expedia has found. Close to a third (32%) found booking air travel is more daunting than [...]