L-R clockwise: Dickson Chin (far left main picture) with some Japanese ports exhibitors, the Hong Kong delegation and at the Wallem Philippines stand
Asia cruising is back, declared Dickson Chin, md of Wallem Ship Agency during a panel discussion focussing on the region he moderated at Seatrade Cruise Global.
Chin is well placed to make such an observation having worked at Wallem Ship Agency for over 15 years and seen Asia re-emerging after a three year lull in cruise operations.
While cruise accounts for 35% of Wallem Ship Agency’s business Chin called cruise, ‘the piston in our engine that was misfiring during the pandemic’ as cruise ship calls came to a virtual halt and business switched to supporting crew repatriation and vessel lay ups. ‘However cruise is firmly back and we are proud that we managed to retain all our employees,’ he told Seatrade Cruise in a one-to-one interview in Miami on the last day of the event.
Asia-wide operations
Wallem Ship Agency handles cruise calls from 38 brands across 11 Asian countries starting in the east in Myanmar and stretching west to Japan.
The company has 27 regional offices, including nine in mainland China with Singapore being itsbusiest for cruise activity.
Consultancy projects
Aside from handling all sizes of cruise ships across Asia from expedition and luxury to mega vessels, as if that wasn’t enough to oversee, dynamo Chin who is constantly on the move, has been actively involved this past year in consultancy projects to help re-ignite the cruise sector advising regional ports, tourism authorities and governments.
Road trips
Immediately after Seatrade Cruise Global he travelled with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to offices in Miami and Fort Lauderdale for a series of closed-door meetings with cruise lines to talk around incentives and latest innovations on the shorex front.
Earlier this year, Chin accompanied executives from three Japanese ports: Kyoto, Maizuru and Kochi to visit cruise lines in three US cities: Los Angeles, Seattle and Miami in a push to rebuild and boost cruise tourism in Japan.
Chin is also honoured to be part of the Wallem Group, which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2023 having been founded over a century ago in Shanghai. ‘I am proud of our heritage and roots as well as services that have stood the test of time,’ he said before fleeing off to another meeting.
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