With a long-held vision to build Southeast Asia into the ‘Caribbean
of the Far East', Hwajing Travel & Tours managing director Kenny
Cheong has launched a pilot programme to charter Costa Cruises' Costa
Serena ship out of Kuala Lumpur.
Sensing the blooming interest in cruising, Cheong is ready to give
full ship charters a try by chartering Costa Serena in January 2024.
Featuring a 3-day, 2-night package as well as two 4-day, 3-night
packages departing from Port Klang, the three Costa Serena sailings will
navigate to Penang for domestic escapades and extend to Phuket for
international journeys.
Cheong's optimism in the charter market in Malaysia is fuelled by the
growing interest in cruising among the country’s population of 30
million "I'm confident that charter cruises will do well in the
Malaysian market,” he asserts.
The pandemic has reshaped travel preferences, with a significant
portion of the market veering away from group tours. Cruising, with its
relaxed nature, has gained traction among Malaysia travellers, aligning
with travellers' desires to reconnect with loved ones and friends during
vacations.
Furthermore, Costa Cruises' distinct "Italy at sea" ambiance
resonates with Malaysian travellers, contributing to the popularity of
the packages.
Looking ahead, Hwajing is driving sales of these charter sailings
through its network of sub-agencies and proprietary sailings, and will
participate in consumer fairs like MATTA Fair to further amplify their
presence.