Sector defies industry trend with 21% surge in passenger numbers
By
Lim Wei Chean
This year a record 10 ships, many on round-the-world tours, are making their maiden calls at HarbourFront terminal. Several industries - from tourism to hospitality and ship maintenance and servicing - will reap the economic spin-offs. Above, Star Cruises' SuperStar Virgo. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
THE cruise industry is one tourism sector remaining buoyant during the current economic storm.
Although tourist arrivals to Singapore have been drifting for 12 straight months, the tide is turning in favour of cruise vacations.
For the first five months of this year, the Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront saw 459,000 passengers go through its gates - a 21 per cent increase from the same period last year, which registered 380,000 passengers.
Please read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
