Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has opened an
office in Singapore where its Asia-Pacific regional headquarters
will be located, the cruise company said.
Situated in
Singapore's central business district, RCCL said the office will
support the company's marketing efforts in the Asia-Pacific region
for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara
Cruises, and will provide sales and trade support in the
region.
RCCL said that
with the number of cruise guests sailing in the Asia-Pacific region
projected to grow by more than 40%, from 1.07 million in 2005 to
1.5 million by 2010, the opening of an Asia-Pacific regional office
is strategically timed.
"Our expansion to
the Asia-Pacific region is an integral part of our international
business development and growth strategy, and it is an exciting
time to be here," said Rama Rebbapragada, RCCL's managing director
for Asia Pacific, in a statement.
Rebbapragada, who
will head the regional office, said that Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody
of the Seas will be homeported in Singapore at the end of this
year, and is the largest cruise ship in the region.
"This region
shows great growth potential in terms of providing new destinations
for international cruise guests from North America and Europe given
the varied and exciting cultures throughout the region, and their
accessibility to the coastline," said Adam Goldstein, president of
Royal Caribbean International, in a statement. "This, coupled with
the prospect of Asian markets being substantial source markets for
new cruise guests, gives us tremendous opportunity for growth in
the region."
RCCL noted that
there have been other recent efforts made to grow the cruise
industry in Singapore, including a $5 million facelift in 2005 for
the Singapore Cruise Centre. The Cruise Centre is expected to
attract 1.2 million cruise passengers to Singapore by 2010, RCCL
said.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail
to Johanna Jainchill at [email protected].