In a bid to benefit from the growing market of Indians opting for cruise travel, Europe-based Costa Cruises, says it plans to open its office in Mumbai by October this year and expects a fivefold jump in tour registrations from the country by next year.
Speaking on the various initiatives Alessandro Bottaro, Head of Sales & Marketing, Mediterranean New Markets, India, Africa, Middle East, Costa Crociere S.p.A. said, “India is a potential growth market for Costa Cruises and we want to explore the opportunities here by expanding our network. We will have a marketing, sales and reservations team working directly from our upcoming office in Mumbai.”
The cruise liner is targeting 10,000 passengers on-board from India in 2013. “Currently, we see demand for packages to Far East Asia from India. Indians on an average opt for a three- to five-day tour, which is a mix of weddings, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences/Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE), families and honeymooners. We have to be focussed and aggressive, push our products in the market, support the travel trade and organise regular trainings and familiarisation trips for them,” stated Bottaro, adding that besides metros, the company is also looking at tapping cities such as Pune, Nashik, Surat and Guwahati.
Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, Lotus Destinations (The company’s GSA in India) said, “With Indians looking for three- to five-day short cruise packages, the products and itineraries of Costa Cruises, that caters to upper-middle class onwards, best suits the Indian market.”
Costa Cruises has launched an offering for the Indian market to Far East Asia – Costa Victoria and Costa Atlantica – in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The two ships will sail from the newly opened Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) and will enable guests to travel to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Chang CheePey, Executive Director, South Asia, Middle East & Africa for Singapore Tourism Board, said, “Costa Cruises is the most recent experiential attraction that will make visitors’ stay in Singapore even more memorable. With the new MBCCS, we will double our berthing capacity and be able to welcome some of the largest cruise ships in the world.”
Costa Victoria (75,200 gross tonnage, 2,394 total guests and 964 cabins (30 per cent with balcony) will start the voyage from November 17, 2012 to January 2013 to offer three- four- and seven-day cruises to Malaysia and Thailand. Costa Atlantica (85,700 gross tonnage and 2,680 total guests and 1057 cabins) will start three- and four-day cruises to Thailand and Malaysia from May to June 2013.
With the exception of a few departures, both itineraries offer free travel for one or two children under the age of 18 if sharing the cabin with two adults. In addition, Costa Cruises launched their 2013 brochure for the Indian market.
COSTA CRUISES BULLISH ON INDIA
