Costa Cruises Highlights Its Asian Deployment at Korean Expo

Costa Cruises — the first Western cruise line to enter the Asian market in 2006 — took center stage during the “National Day of Italy” today at the Yeosu International Expo in Korea.

Costa Victoria (75,200 gross tons and 2,394 total guests) berthed for the occasion at a wharf set up by the expo organizers inside the exhibition area and hosted a reception for the National Day of Italy festivities. About 300 people, including local authorities and representatives of the expo’s participating countries, toured the ship and had an opportunity to experience Italian culinary excellence.

Attendees included Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman of the board of Costa Crociere S.p.A.; Michael Thamm, chief executive officer of Costa Crociere S.p.A., and the Italian general commissioner for the Yeosu International Expo, Ambassador Claudio Moreno.

“We were the first company in the world to believe in the development of the cruise market in Asia, and every year our cruises bring a piece of ‘Italy at sea’ to tens of thousands of Asian clients,” said Foschi.

“Our programs in the area are based on a long-term commitment confirmed positioning Costa Victoria and Costa Atlantica to offer Asian guests an Italian-style cruise holiday experience,” said Thamm.

The National Day of Italy culminated with a magnificent opera concert, organized by Costa Cruises, by the Giuseppe Verdi Opera Company Orchestra of Trieste, Italy. The concert was held for an audience of 3,500, including Costa Victoria guests.

Costa is focusing on the emerging Asian market for future growth. In 2013 Costa will double it capacity in the region with the arrival in May of Costa Atlantica (85,700 gross tons and 2,680 total guests). The positioning of Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria represents a 90 percent increase of Costa’s capacity in Asia. Since 2006, about 400,000 Costa guests have cruised in the region.

Costa offers a unique product for the Asian market based on the concept of “Italy at Sea” with Italian hospitality, design, shopping, artwork and gastronomy. Costa Victoria and Costa Atlantica will offer a variety of short and longer itineraries departing from Singapore and Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong, China, designed to appeal to both Asians and Europeans. Destinations include exotic ports in Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. In 2012 Costa will make 42 calls in Korea, increasing to 81 in 2013 and, besides Yeosu, include Cheju and Pusan.

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