By 2015, Asia's cruise industry may see 7 million passengers a year, three times the number previously forecast, according to Soo Kok Leng, chairman of the Singapore Cruise Center, which hosted the first Asia Cruise Terminal Association meeting in Singapore.

Formed in June, it acts as a forum for members to raise standards. Nine of its 12 members, from places like China, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, attended the one-day meeting at the Amara Hotel.

In his opening speech, Soo said a forecast of 2 million cruise passengers in the Asia-Pacific region by 2015 - published in 2005 by Ocean Shipping Consultants, based in Britain - was "too conservative".