With India emerging as a promising market for luxury and expedition cruising, Dominic Tan, Regional Sales & Marketing Manager APAC, Scenic Group, shares his perspective on the growing demand for immersive travel experiences. He highlights the importance of strengthening travel trade partnerships, empowering travel advisors and introducing Indian travellers to exceptional cruise experiences.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
How do you assess the potential of the Indian market for luxury and expedition cruising?
India represents a promising growth market for luxury and expedition cruising, supported by a growing affluent traveller segment, increasing appetite for experiential travel and a desire for more personalised, immersive holidays. As Indian travellers become more well-travelled, we see opportunities to introduce them to the distinctive value of all-inclusive luxury cruising, combining exceptional service, culinary experiences and access to remarkable destinations. Expedition cruising also appeals to travellers seeking meaningful encounters with nature, wildlife and remote cultures.
What are Scenic Group’s key strategies for strengthening partnerships with the Indian travel trade?
Our focus is on building long-term, collaborative relationships with travel partners through regular engagement, product education and a strong understanding of their business needs. We aim to equip our partners with the knowledge and confidence to communicate the unique experiences offered by Scenic’s ultra-luxury river and ocean cruises, as well as Emerald Cruises’ contemporary luxury river and yacht cruises. By working closely with the trade, we can better identify opportunities, reach new customer segments and deliver memorable experiences for Indian travellers.
How is Scenic Group supporting travel agents through training, incentives and sales initiatives?
We recognise that travel advisors play a vital role in helping clients navigate the premium cruising landscape. Our approach includes product training, destination updates, sales resources and direct engagement to strengthen advisors’ confidence in presenting our offerings. We also work with partners on relevant promotional and sales initiatives to generate awareness and support conversion. By combining product knowledge with responsive support, we aim to make it easier for advisors to match clients with the right cruise experience and build lasting customer relationships.
Which destinations and cruise experiences do you expect to drive demand in 2027?
We expect continued interest in Europe’s iconic rivers, particularly the Danube and Rhine, where culture, heritage and scenic landscapes come together effortlessly. At the same time, expedition destinations such as Antarctica and the Arctic should appeal to travellers seeking extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Luxury yacht cruising in the Mediterranean and Adriatic will also remain attractive for its combination of smaller ports, immersive discovery and relaxed exploration.
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