Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port (HIP) experienced a surge in maritime activity, hosting 6000+ tourists to in November and December 2023, with the arrival of 5 cruise liners.
Azamara Journey visited on November 29, disembarking 620 passengers. Following suit, TUI's Mein Schiff 5, arriving from Muscat on December 10, made a call at HIP the next day, carrying 2200 passengers. In alignment with HIP’s green-port initiative, a group of passengers from Schiff 5 explored the area on e-bikes. This marks the ship’s second visit in 2023 and the third call at the port, including the visit in May 2022.
Other noteworthy ships included Celebrity Millennium (December 5 and 16, bringing 3500 passengers) and Oceania Nautica (December 19, carrying 498 tourists).
In 2023, HIP has recorded 22 cruise ship calls, with a significant number arriving from Chennai via Cordelia Cruise Lines. This cruise line, catering to Indian and international travelers, made several ship calls to HIP between June and September, utilizing their cruise liner Empress. The port welcomed ~7,500 tourists throughout the year.
Nautica and Celebrity Millennium are set to sail for Phuket Thailand, as their next port of call, while Azamara Journey is bound for Sabang Indonesia. Mein Schiff 5 continues her onward journey to the Langkawi Archipelago Malaysia.
The port’s strategic initiatives to foster the cruise business, coupled with enhanced facilities for ships and passengers, have proven successful, culminating in the notable increase in ship calls.