The Asia Cruise Association (ACA) welcomes MSC Cruises as its newest member. MSC Cruises now joins the league of leading cruise lines, including Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Australia, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises and Star Cruises, to champion the development and promote the growth of the cruise industry in Asia.
Incorporated in 2009, ACA serves as the platform and forum for industry and destinations in Asia to engage each other on cruise related matters to promote the professional and commercial development of the industry. The priorities of ACA are to raise consumer awareness on cruising, training the travel trade to sell cruise products and working with regulatory bodies on customs, immigration and quarantine issues to facilitate seamless passenger movements.
ACA Chairman Rama Rebbapragada said, “The ACA is pleased to welcome MSC Cruises as its newest member. The ACA is the largest cruise association in Asia, and since its inception has been engaging governments, port authorities, tourism boards, travel trade partners and industry stakeholders on promoting the cruise industry. The addition of MSC Cruises to ACA is a boost to our membership and our industry representation. To grow the Asian Cruise Industry, we need the collective efforts of all cruise lines and industry stakeholders. We believe MSC Cruises, together with our cruise line members, can contribute positively towards this cause.”
“MSC Cruises is happy to join ACA and look forward to collaborating with it and to working with its members and partners to propel the development of the cruise industry in Asia. With the rising volume of Asian passengers travelling to Caribbean and the Mediterranean, it is an important opportunity for MSC Cruises to be part of ACA and help drive the growth of the Asian source markets. We believe that ACA is a good conduit for cruise lines to reach out to the trade and the consumers.” Stephen Van Wormer, Managing Director MSC Cruises Hong Kong & Southeast Asia commented. With the admission of MSC Cruises to ACA, the Association now has a total of 37 members, which include 9 cruise lines members and 28 Associate members.