Royal Caribbean Cruises has opened its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.

The regional headquarters will support the marketing efforts in the Asia-Pacific region for three of the company's cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Headed by Rama Rebbapragada, managing director for Asia Pacific, the office also will provide sales and trade support in the region.

"Our expansion to the Asia-Pacific region is an integral part of our international business development and growth strategy, and it is an exciting time to be here," said Rebbapragada. "We will have Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas, the largest ship sailing in this region, 'homeported' here at the end of this year and we are committed to another Asia season in 2008-09, offering Asia-Pacific guests our unique and award-winning cruising experience."

With the number of cruise guests sailing in the Asia-Pacific region projected to grow by more than 40 percent, from 1.07 million in 2005 to 1.5 million by 2010, the opening of Royal Caribbean's Asia-Pacific regional office is strategically timed. Royal Caribbean International's range of cruise offerings is perfectly placed to take advantage of rapid economic growth and a renewed interest in cruising from key source markets in the region.

The company's establishment of an Asia-Pacific office complements several other recent efforts that have been made to grow the cruise industry in Singapore. In 2005, the Singapore Cruise Centre underwent a US$5 million facelift that aimed to strengthen its position as the nerve centre for the cruise industry in Asia. The Cruise Centre is expected to attract 1.2 million cruise passengers to Singapore by 2010. The Singapore Tourism Board also administers a US$10 million fund set up jointly with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Cruise Centre to boost the local cruise industry and encourage major international cruise companies to partner with Singapore in product development and marketing initiatives.