CAPTURING THE CRUISE DOLLAR
Singapore handled nearly 1.85 million cruise passengers last year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Cruise passengers are typically those with higher spending power, and partnerships between tour operators and cruise lines are helping Singapore capture a larger slice of this market, experts said.
The next wave of growth will also depend on how quickly local operators innovate, said Professor Lawrence Loh from the National University of Singapore’s Business School.
“There are other more unique combinations that can be done, for example, cruise plus meetings and conferences, cruise plus major events including Formula 1 or even concerts,” he said.
“You have to examine what some of the touch points are that can be attractive to the crew and passengers.”
They may want to experience more than tour packages can offer, such as visiting public housing neighbourhoods to understand the Singapore success story, added Prof Loh. Operators can even explore behind-the-scenes experiences, such as tours of Changi Airport or the port.
“Cruises will open a new avenue for many tour operators. So, in other words, the sea is the limit,” he added.
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