Hong Kong China’s cruise business is back in full swing with over 160 ship calls from 16 cruise lines/brands scheduled for 2023, according to Kenneth Wong (Hong Kong Tourism Board’s MICE and Cruise General Manager).
This impressive post-COVID recovery is thanks to the trust and relationships built with cruise companies, and the mask mandate being lifted.
Silver Spirit ship (Silversea) started the season in Asia with its debut return to Hong Kong in mid-January. Silversea, TUI and Hapag-Lloyd are just some of the premium brands deploying ships to the Chinese city, and Resorts World Cruises is homeporting year-round. Hong Kong’s potential for accommodating a variety of cruise products, as well as the availability of flights connecting destinations and hubs around the world, is further highlighted by the growing potential in source markets. The Hong Kong International Airport is also implementing an expansion plan for the three-runway system to handle 30 million more passengers a year by 2030.
The city’s reopening is being showcased with the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s large-scale “Hello Hong Kong” global promotional campaign, highlighting exciting new developments, events and activities. Along the harbor of Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District is the new Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+, Asia’s first truly global museum of contemporary visual culture. Possibilities abound for international travelers arriving via cruise ship, including the iconic Peak Tram and its panoramic views from Victoria Peak, which has undergone a makeover.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board is providing extensive support to cruise operators, such as itinerary planning facilitation, port operating costs subsidy, and consumer demand-stimulating campaigns, to ensure cruise line deployment is a success. Kenneth Wong is confident that the city will continue to be a leading Asia cruise hub and tourism capital, and that a strong international cruise comeback is on the horizon.