The Asia Cruise Association (ACA) and Port of Hakata, Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Japan Cruise Symposium held at Fukuoka, Japan to affirm both parties’ intention to cooperate to promote the growth and development of the Japanese cruise industry. Alongside the MOU signing ceremony, Port of Hakata announced its decision to join ACA as a member.

ACA Chairman, Rama Rebbapragada, said “ACA warmly welcomes Port of Hakata, Japan, as its newest member and its first major Japanese port member to the Association. The Port of Hakata is a very important port of call on most itineraries currently offered between China and Japan, and the port has the potential of emerging as one Japan’s main cruise hubs. The ACA and all of its member cruise lines are grateful to the Port of Hakata and the city of Fukuoka for their support of international cruise operators and their commitment to the ACA to jointly promote the cruise industry.”

On joining ACA and the MOU signing with ACA, Kaoru Ikeda, Director General of Port of Hakata, Japan commented “Port of Hakata has been an important gateway in promoting economic and cultural exchanges with China and South Korea. We see increasing number of international cruise lines sailing in East Asia calling at our ports in recent years. It is timely for us to tap on this positive trend to further promote and build a vibrant cruise tourism market. As ACA is the largest association dedicated to promoting cruise industry in Asia and Port of Hakata agrees with their purpose, we see many areas which we can co-operate with ACA to promote cruise industry in East Asia.”

Moving forward, the two parties will be conducting regular dialogue exchange to discuss ways to promote the growth, commercial and professional development of the cruise industry.