Incheon Port Cruise Operations Resume... 30,000-ton Regatta Ship Scheduled to Arrive in October

Incheon Port Cruise Terminal
[Photo by Incheon Port Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced on the 19th that it will carry out various activities to revitalize cruises in preparation for the resumption of cruise operations, which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to invigorate the marine tourism industry.

First, IPA has refurbished the cruise berth facilities to welcome the 30,000-ton cruise ship Regatta (MS Regatta) of the US shipping company Oceania, scheduled to dock in Incheon this October.

Through consultations with related organizations, preparations are underway to ensure smooth immigration procedures, and plans are in place to hold welcome events and operate free shuttle buses. Additionally, marketing activities are being conducted targeting cruise lines and travel agencies to attract world cruises.

IPA plans to actively promote Incheon Port’s geographical advantages, which boasts the largest cruise pier facilities in Korea, along with tourist attractions in the metropolitan area.

Along with this, to raise public interest in cruises, IPA will continue operating the Incheon Port Marine Tourism Supporters following the first quarter and establish a non-face-to-face cruise promotional center using a metaverse (3D virtual world) platform.

An IPA official stated, "We will make thorough preparations for smooth operations upon the resumption of cruise services," adding, "We will conduct customized marketing by closely identifying the difficulties and interests of cruise lines."

Meanwhile, no cruise ships have docked in Incheon since October 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons.

Cruise companies are reportedly preparing to resume operations, anticipating that the Korean government’s ban on cruise arrivals, which has been in effect since February 2020, will be lifted soon.

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