S'pore named Destination of the Year at global cruise awards

S'pore named Destination of the Year at global cruise awards

Singapore's aspiration to be Asia's premier cruise hub has been given a boost.

A panel of experts across the global cruise industry picked Singapore as Destination of the Year, over contenders from the Mediterranean.

Singapore was selected for its work in promoting cruises not just within the country but also in the region, said Ms Mary Bond, editor of online cruise news site Seatrade Insider, which gave out the awards.

Through ASEAN, Singapore rallied the region to develop port infrastructure so that bigger ships can be deployed in the region, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said yesterday.

STB's assistant chief executive Neeta Lachmandas said the award "underscores our collaborative efforts in promoting our region as an attractive cruising destination".

Last year, Singapore facilitated a trade visit to the region for industry players to experience first- hand the latest cruise itineraries across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The Republic is working with ASEAN on a monthly e-newsletter that will report on the latest cruise trends and developments in South-east Asia.

The Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards recognises achievements in the global cruise industry.

The awards for this year, the eighth edition, were given out in Barcelona, Spain, last month.

Singapore beat the Mediterranean's French Atlantic Ports and Cruise Net Hamburg to become the first Asian country to win the top destination award.

Ms Lachmandas said the regional cruise industry is still in the early stages of growth.

She added: "We hope that this award can motivate everyone to continue working towards our goal in making South-east Asia one of the world's foremost cruise destinations."


This article was first published on October 28, 2014.
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