Cruise line urges Asia to upgrade ports
kansas.com
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. urged Asian countries on Friday to improve their port facilities to accommodate larger ships as the company expands its operations in the region to gain new customers.
"It is really important for hubs in Asia to commence infrastructure improvement... it's a matter of execution at this point," said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean, the world's second-largest cruising company.
Royal Caribbean operates a major call center in Wichita.
Asia's port infrastructure is cited by the cruise industry as a major obstacle for ship and passenger capacity, with many ports lacking adequate transportation.
The number of cruise passengers in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow from 1.07 million in 2005 to 1.5 million by 2010, more than 40 percent, Royal Caribbean said, citing a May 2005 study.
