Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Extends Membership in Asia Cruise Council Until 2024

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 27th that it will extend its membership in the "Asia Cruise Council" (ACC) until June 30, 2024, to prepare for the post-COVID-19 era.

The ACC was established in 2014 to develop the cruise industry within the Asia region. Currently, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, and China participate. South Korea joined in 2017, and its membership was set to expire in June this year, but it has now been extended for three years.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to strengthen the appeal of Korean ports of call by developing unique tourism products with local governments and improving transportation convenience, focusing on representative cruise port cities such as Busan, Incheon, Jeju, Sokcho in Gangwon, and Yeosu in Jeollanam-do. Various benefits are also being prepared, including docking fee reductions for foreign cruise ships calling at Korean ports. In September, the ministry will participate with local governments in the world's largest cruise expo held in Miami, USA, to promote Korea as a port of call on overseas cruise routes.

Domestic cruise tourists increased more than twofold from about 15,000 in 2017 to about 36,000 in 2019. Considering this demand, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to promote coastal cruise projects to revive the domestic cruise industry, which has been stagnant due to COVID-19.

Jeon Juncheol, Director of Marine Leisure Tourism at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "The cruise industry worldwide, including domestically, has faced difficulties due to the ban on cruise arrivals caused by COVID-19," adding, "Through the Asia Cruise Council, we will establish a close cooperative system with member countries to steadily prepare for the post-COVID-19 resurgence of the cruise industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.