Cruise Ships Flock to Busan Port as Global Cruise Sea Routes Open

Amadea Ship Leaving France to Make First Port Call on the 15th

90 Bookings This Year, Over 100 Expected Next Year

The world cruise sea routes are wide open.

After three years, the sea route has reopened, and the first cruise ship will visit Busan on the 15th. This year, about 90 cruise ships from around the world will anchor at Busan Port. More than 100 ships are expected next year.

The Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries (Commissioner Yoon Jong-ho) and Busan Port Authority (President Kang Jun-seok) announced on the 14th that the M/S Amadea (29,000 tons) will enter the International Passenger Terminal at 8 a.m. on the 15th, carrying 470 passengers and about 300 crew members.

The Amadea departed from Nice, France, on December 20 last year and will return to France at the end of May after visiting Central and South America, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Passengers from several countries including Germany, Switzerland, and Austria are on this worldwide cruise.

Notably, 260 German passengers boarded in early March in Tokyo, Japan, to start their cruise tour. This indicates that Korea, including Busan, holds appeal as a cruise destination to the world, waiting for the news of Korea’s cruise resumption.

Busan Port Authority (BPA) announced that as of March, more than 90 cruise ships have applied to enter Busan Port this year, far exceeding the initially expected 80 voyages.

Busan Port plans to conduct targeted marketing tailored to the characteristics of Europe, the Americas, and Asia, aiming for 100 voyages next year. BPA will focus on regaining the pre-COVID-19 peak by monitoring global major shipping companies’ trends and preparing for the opening of Chinese ports.

Busan Port Authority.

Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries and BPA have held more than five inspection meetings with related agencies on CIQ (Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine) and security since last November in preparation for cruise ship arrivals. They are efficiently preparing to welcome guests, including conducting a simulation on the 8th to prepare for the cruise ship arrival.

Yoon Jong-ho, Commissioner of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, said, “The resumption of cruise ship arrivals at Busan Port is expected to help revitalize the local economy, which has suffered due to COVID-19,” and added, “We will work together with various agencies to ensure there are no inconveniences in using Busan Port.”

Kang Jun-seok, President of BPA, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the AMADEA, the first ship to visit after the cruise resumption, and wish for a safe voyage.”

President Kang also said, “I eagerly anticipate Busan regaining vitality with cruise tourists after a long time and will devote efforts to revitalizing the cruise industry.”

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