Hong Kong and Taiwan to Promote Cruise Tourism

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau have reached an agreement with Royal Caribbean International to schedule two deployments of cruise liner Mariner of the Seas to Hong Kong and Taiwan on 29 October and 2 November this year.

Hong Kong will be the home port of the ship for both deployments.

On 29 October, the cruise vessel will embark from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung and Keelung on a five-night, four-day itinerary.

The ship will sail from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung once again on 2 November and return to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on 5 November.

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said, “When Kai Tak Cruise Terminal begins service this month, Hong Kong will offer a wider range of cruise facilities for the world’s cruise liners. But in addition to world-class hardware and software, regional co-operation is crucial to the promotion of cruise tourism. This collaboration between the HKTB and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is a model of such co-operation. The HKTB looks forward to working closely with Taiwan and other neighbouring ports to promote the development of regional cruise tourism and to attract more cruise companies to design itineraries featuring Hong Kong, in order to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s Cruise Hub.”

Dr Wayne Liu, Deputy Director General of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said: “The rapid growth of the Asian tourism market has caused intense competition among countries and cities in the region. But to foster the healthy development of this market, it is vital for these competitors to achieve synergy by promoting the region’s tourism together, leveraging their unique tourism strengths. The joint cruise promotion between the HKTB and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau serves as an important collaborative model, as Hong Kong and Taiwan partner to tap the cruise potential of the region. We believe there will be ample collaborative opportunities for the two destinations to bring the region’s tourism to the next level.”