Costa Cruises further strengthens its company organization in China with the arrival of a new Vice President of China, Buhdy Bok, who will head the local operations of the Italian company.

Costa Cruises was the first international cruise company to open the cruise market in China, selling its “Italian Style” cruises to the Chinese. After six years of intense activity in the country, Costa Cruises is now the No. 1 company in China, with local offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, homeports in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tianjin, an established presence in the tourism industry and its brand is increasingly popular and appreciated.  

In 2012 Costa Cruises will expand its offer in the region with the deployment, starting from May, for the first time, of the Costa Victoria (75,200 gross tonnage and 2,394 total Guests). The ship is even bigger than the Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 total guests), currently operating in the region. Furthermore the Costa Victoria (www.costacruise.com/costa_victoria) will offer a new product feature for local Clients: 246 cabins with private balcony.

The arrival of Buhdy Bok, manager of big experience, is aimed at adequately supporting the growth of Costa Cruises in China, a strategic market for the future development of the largest Italian travel group and no.1 cruise company in Europe.

Buhdy Bok, 38 years old, spent many years in a distinguished career at Singapore Airlines, where he held various positions, both at the company’s headquarters in Singapore and abroad. This included the responsibility for “Eastern China and Jiangsu” area, and, more recently, for the Italian market, in the Milan office.

In Costa Cruises Buhdy Bok, who will report to the Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, Norbert Stiekema, will be responsible for further developing the network of travel agencies and trading partners of the Italian Company in Mainland China (www.costachina.com).