By
Rebecca Gibson |
River cruise operator Aqua Expeditions has joined Cruise Lines International Association Australasia (CLIA Australasia), which was formerly the International Cruise Council Australasia.
Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO of Aqua Expeditions, said: “We are excited for this new venture and are confident Aqua Expeditions and CLIA will be a successful partnership, especially as interest in river cruising surges and we expand into the Asian market.”
The move comes as CLIA Australasia reveals that Australasia is one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world, with river cruising increasing by 22 per cent in this region between 2010 and 2011.
“Whilst we’ve seen European river cruising numbers surge in recent years there is also a great deal of local interest in cruising the famous rivers of other continents so we welcome Aqua Expeditions onboard,” said Brett Jardine, general manager of CLIA Australasia.
Aqua Expeditions has two ships, Aqua and Aria, which offer itineraries on the Peruvian Amazon. The operator’s latest vessel Aqua Mekong will sail on the Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia next year.