65 Photo: credit demographic is already running with a 70 per cent fly-cruise international market and 30 per cent domestic guests, according to Goh. He is not phased by the prospect of competition as the Asian cruise market continues to reopen. “I see it in a positive way,” he says. “More cruise lines being active also means there is more publicity, so the market expands and there will be more awareness. With everyone putting resources into promoting cruises, the penetration of cruise will be much higher. I think the penetration in Asia is still quite small so definitely there is appetite to continue to grow the pie. “Secondly for RWC, we are the only Asian brand here and the group has over 50 years’ experience. We understand what customers want and continue to renew the experience and tailor it to their preferences.” The company put a lot of effort into theming the onboard experience, with the ships being equipped with a plethora of outdoor facilities, a spa, different food and beverage outlets, spaces and entertainment for families, and more. “To me, the onboard experience is the most important element of a cruise,” says Goh. RWC also recognises the vital importance of delivering a highquality landside experience, especially in homeports. “The authorities and tourism boards are very supportive in terms of growing the cruise business and meticulous about the tourism experience so that is at the top of our platform, to work with local authorities to create the experience we want to provide,” says Goh. However, like many other cruise brands, RWC would like to see improvements to the visa requirements asked for by the countries the ships visit. Goh says: “We seek authority attention to simplify the experience for the customer.” Goh is optimistic for 2024 and the future and is in no doubt as to RWC’s path ahead. “We have to build up a good brand that will grow and be successful. We want to continue our presence in Asia. We want to continue to be our customers’ preferred cruise line, driven by the experience they have when they come onboard our cruise ships.” Future expansion is in the pipeline too. “We will, at the right time and in the right place,” says Goh. “We don’t rule out any possibility and we will continue to look for the opportunity.” “ We understand what customers want and continue to renew the experience” INTERVIEW
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