2013 event is scheduled for September in Singapore

The second edition of Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific closed today, September 18, with participants - cruise line representatives and exhibiting companies - agreeing the event holds great promise for the future of the cruise industry in the Asia-Pacific region. The two-day conference and trade show, organized by UBM and held at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, attracted attendees from across the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of world.

Organized by UBM, the event included a full conference program of panel discussions, a trade fair, business-matching program and travel agent training sessions. Cruise Shipping Asia 2013 is scheduled for September, and will be held in Singapore.

"We were very pleased with the level of excitement and interaction between the attendees over the two days of conference sessions, trade show activity and social functions," said Daniel Read, director of UBM’s Cruise Shipping Portfolio. "Just days before the show opened, Carnival Corporation announced it was opening a Carnival Asia unit here in Singapore. There’s no better proof of the region’s significance than having the world’s largest cruise company establish a permanent presence here."

The tone of the conference and trade show was upbeat. Under the theme of "Optimizing Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Cruise Industry," the conference focused on the growth potential of the pan-Asia region and how to accommodate the rapid market expansion predicted for the Asian cruise business.

Participants in the conferences included Christine Duffy, president and chief executive officer of Cruise Lines International Association; Ann Sherry, chief executive officer of Carnival Australia; Gianni Onorato, president of Costa Crociere; Roberto Giorgi, president of V.Ships, and Dr. Zinan Liu, managing director China and Asia for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Exhibiting companies included Tourism Malaysia, Port Klang Cruise Center, Brunei Tourism, Sembawang Shipyard, Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Western Australia, TEAM Ports & Maritime and Maritime Communications Partners, among many more. To view the complete exhibitor list click here: www.cruiseshippingasia.com/exhibitor-list1

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific is supported by the Asia Cruise Association, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and International Cruise Council Australasia, and has the exclusive support of Cruise Lines International Association, the global advocate for the industry.