Thai brands urged to access malls on ‘booming’ cruise ships 

By The Nation

 

 

Thai brands are being urged to seek access to floating shopping malls on cruise ships to profit from the booming tourism business.

 

Nithima Siriphokakij, director of the Miami-based International Trade Promotion Office of the Department of International Trade, said the cruise ship business is now booming and could be a good channel for selling Thai goods.

 

She said the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association has issued its 2019 report on the overall picture of the industry, and the report stated that there were 28.2 million passengers of cruise ships worldwide in 2018, an increase of 5.6 per cent from the previous year.

 

Cruise ships have malls on board, said Nithima, providing tourists a shopping experience featuring all manner of branded and non-branded goods including clothes, bags, books, goods for children, souvenirs, perfume, chocolates, cosmetics and electronic gadgets. Some also boast art galleries on board.

 

As a result, cruise ships could be promising venues for Thai manufactures to sell their products, she said, adding that goods need not be branded but must be of a good quality.

 

Nithima said the association’s report found that the accommodations aboard cruise ships were always overbooked, and the situation has not been solved by the addition of new cruise ships. 

 

The report predicts that the number of cruise ship passengers worldwide in 2019 would grow to some 30 million, higher than the target of 27.2 million set by the operators.

 

Nithima said there are several factors contributing to the boom of the cruise ship business. Most important is that tourists who have posted photos on their Instagram wall with information about their trips has caused their friends and followers to want to follow suit, Nithima said.

 

She said there is a trend among new-generation people or Gen-Z people to take cruises. As well, people concerned about keeping up with their work like to travel by ships as they can continue working due to internet access and other facilities.

 

Women and people who travel alone are also more often vacationing on cruise ships.

 

Some cruise ships target people seeking health rehabilitation, providing spas and other services, she said.

 

Those tourists seeking a new life experience can also enjoy the new routes being opened up through cruise ship trips, including Machu Picchu, or could learn to cook with celebrity chefs. Some cruise trips take customers to visit areas normally off-limit to tourists, such as the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica.

 

She added that Thai manufacturers should visit cruise ship trade fairs to identify the channels to sell goods on board. The fairs include Seatrade Europe in Hamburg from September 11 to 13 and Seatrade Cruise Global 2020 in Miami from April 21 to 23 next year.

 

Source: http://www.nationthailand.com/business/30372343

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-05

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6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai brands

??? Give me some high quality fashion and perfume as well as jewelleries, that would attract the western world. That is Thai brands without counterfeiting and copies.

Nah, nevermind, now I´ve got it! They are going to introduce Nam Pla and Pla Ra to all holiday makers.

Can you imagine the food carts parked haphazardly down the corridors of cruise ships ????

2 hours ago, Matzzon said:

??? Give me some high quality fashion and perfume as well as jewelleries, that would attract the western world. That is Thai brands without counterfeiting and copies.

Nah, nevermind, now I´ve got it! They are going to introduce Nam Pla and Pla Ra to all holiday makers.

There is that famous scent Odour Durian a big hit with some ????

Must be a nice number to represent the Trade Promotion Office of the Department of International Trade and be based in Miami.

Where do we apply?

 

Cruise ships have malls on board, said Nithima, providing tourists a shopping experience featuring all manner of branded and non-branded goods including clothes, bags, books, goods for children, souvenirs, perfume, chocolates, cosmetics and electronic gadgets. Some also boast art galleries on board.

 

But they cant boast a bar full of hookers yet Umm I have a export idea???? 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Those tourists seeking a new life experience can also enjoy the new routes being opened up through cruise ship trips, including Machu Picchu

A cruise to Machu Picchu?

 

As in the Inca fortress located at 2400 metres in the Andes mountains? 

 

As in the fortress that involves a 4 day hike on the Inca trail?

 

That’s some cruise ship...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Antarctica

Yeh sure ... just watch out for those icebergs won't ya.

Yeah I bet all of them folks on Caribbean cruises wood love to have some authentic Thai wooden frogs to make croaking tunes with.

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

A cruise to Machu Picchu?

 

As in the Inca fortress located at 2400 metres in the Andes mountains? 

 

As in the fortress that involves a 4 day hike on the Inca trail?

 

That’s some cruise ship...

It's the New Machu Picchu, built for Chinese tourists on Sukhumvit. They use the khlong boats for the cruises. Better than original, jingjing!

Having been involved in getting goods onto cruise ships, it's not easy, as there is limited store space and all products need to be in demand and easy to sell...and the ships take ridiculous % of sales.

 

The official makes some valid observations on why cruise ships are excellent outlets for selling goods, but I can't think of one Thai product that would even make the consideration list.

 

Good thinking....but every country and product in the world sees' the same opportunity. 

16 minutes ago, rtco said:

Yeh sure ... just watch out for those icebergs won't ya.

Welcome to Titanic Cruise Lines. Only today: 50% off on all cancellations.

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

 

Cruise ships have malls on board, said Nithima, providing tourists a shopping experience featuring all manner of branded and non-branded goods including clothes, bags, books, goods for children, souvenirs, perfume, chocolates, cosmetics and electronic gadgets. Some also boast art galleries on board.

 

But they cant boast a bar full of hookers yet Umm I have a export idea???? 

The above list mentions all the things that are fake in Thailand. Yes, and hookers too !!

Genting, a Malaysian company, has cruise ships and started reservation gambling in the US.  Why can't Thai companies offer a cruise ?  Always amazed how boring and incapable the rich and powerful are in Thailand.   Maybe package a Thai restaurant?  Can't think of anything I miss about Thailand. 

Nithima Siriphokaki gets an A+ for stating the bleeding obvious. By the time you fly/container your Thai tatt to Miami, it's not going to be that cheap any more.

Edited July 5, 20197 yr by tompelli

King Power will sort this out......and be super competitive.

Elephant pants for everyone!

Looks like someone picked up a trade magazine someone left lying around.  It should be smooth sailing with the Thai speaking owners and operators 

13 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Genting, a Malaysian company, has cruise ships and started reservation gambling in the US.  Why can't Thai companies offer a cruise ?  Always amazed how boring and incapable the rich and powerful are in Thailand.   Maybe package a Thai restaurant?  Can't think of anything I miss about Thailand. 

Thai boats have a habit of sinking and killing lots of passengers.

I really don't think this guy understands the commision rate the cruise ships take. They make Thai Politicians and Police seem reasonable.

17 hours ago, rtco said:

Yeh sure ... just watch out for those icebergs won't ya.

The band will play on. 

2 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Thai boats have a habit of sinking and killing lots of passengers.

No - Those boats are Chinese - Built in illegal Cninese yards in Phuket and owned by Chinese Tour companies - - - -

19 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

A cruise to Machu Picchu?

 

As in the Inca fortress located at 2400 metres in the Andes mountains? 

 

As in the fortress that involves a 4 day hike on the Inca trail?

 

That’s some cruise ship...

Sounds like a job for Fitzcarraldo.

1 hour ago, Lenny Jones said:

No - Those boats are Chinese - Built in illegal Cninese yards in Phuket and owned by Chinese Tour companies - - - -

Built in Thailand, Thanks for the confirmation... I asume also carry Thai registration too.

Edited July 6, 20197 yr by Don Mega