Hong Kong-Taiwan launch joint cruise promotion

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan Tourism Bureau) jointly organised a press conference, including a signing ceremo

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan Tourism Bureau) jointly organised a press conference, including a signing ceremony, today (5 June) to announce that they will step up their collaboration to promote cruise tourism in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the region at large. It was also announced that the two organisations 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.

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said: โ€œWhen Kai Tak Cruise Terminal begins service this month, Hong Kong will offer a wider range of cruise facilities for the worldโ€™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 Kongโ€™s position as Asiaโ€™s Cruise Hub.โ€

Dr Wayne Liu, Deputy Director General of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said: โ€œThe 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 regionโ€™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 regionโ€™s tourism to the next level.โ€

The collaboration between Hong Kong and Taiwan includes an agreement with Royal Caribbean International to add two deployments of the companyโ€™s cruise ship Mariner of the Seas to Hong Kong and Taiwan, on 29 October and 2 November respectively. 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.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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