KUALA Lumpur-based Jebsen Travel & Tour Services and Hong Kong-based Westminster Travel will partner to develop the cruise business in Hong Kong.
Jebsen’s managing director, Lim Chee Tong, said his company will provide the expertise to Westminster to operate a cruise department and sell all 50 cruise lines which Jebsen currently represents.
This is Jebsen’s first business dealing in Hong Kong and the company will also provide training to travel agents in Hong Kong on the know-how of selling cruises.
Lim said the cruise market in Hong Kong is a mature one, second to Japan, and as such, he anticipated a conservative growth of 10 per cent in the first year of operation.
He added: “We believe the luxury cruise segment in Hong Kong is big and it is growing for both leisure and incentive travellers. The timing is also right to expand our business in Asia, as we anticipate a few more cruise ships to be stationed in Asia permanently by the end of 2014, joining the three main players here – Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Star Cruises.”
Jebsen also has joint ventures with various cruise partners overseas and has offices in India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea and Oman.
The company was set up in 1979. Among the 50 cruise lines it represents are Poseidon Expeditions, Oceania Cruises, Orion Expedition Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Costa Cruises, Viking Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.
