'Cruise Port' Project Sets Sail... BPA to Launch Busan Cruise Industry Association

"Full-Scale Public-Private Collaboration in the Cruise Industry"

The project to establish Busan Port as a central cruise hub in Northeast Asia has set sail.

Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sangkeun) is preparing to launch the so-called "Busan Cruise Industry Association" to revitalize the cruise industry. Since June, BPA has been building a collaborative system with major institutions and industry stakeholders, aiming for the official launch of the association within the year.

The cruise industry is a convergence sector that goes beyond simple passenger transportation, encompassing the creation of tourism demand and high value-added logistics services. In regions such as Europe and North America, it is already regarded as a future industry with significant ripple effects on the local economy.

This year, 185 cruise ship calls are scheduled at Busan Port, and the number of tourists is expected to exceed 200,000. This marks the highest performance since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a lack of official channels that can systematically reflect the opinions of actual users?tourists?and related industry stakeholders in the operation of cruise terminals and the policy-making process.

BPA is actively pursuing the formation of the association based on cooperation with key domestic and international institutions and industry leaders. It is strengthening collaboration with PanStar Group, Lotte Tour Development, Busan Tourism Organization, and Busan Tourism Association, as well as with the world’s four major cruise lines?Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Norwegian (NCL)?and their domestic port agents such as Dongbang Shipping, Unipros, Wollum Shipping, and Hanbo Agency.

Once the Busan Cruise Industry Association is launched, it is expected to serve as a focal point for practical cooperation, including building networks among cruise-related companies, revitalizing passenger terminals, and making policy recommendations for expanding port infrastructure.

Song Sangkeun, President of BPA, emphasized, "The cruise industry is a convergence industry that enhances not only the port but also the overall image and competitiveness of the city. We will strengthen public-private collaboration centered on the Busan Cruise Industry Association to support Busan Port’s leap forward as the central cruise hub of Northeast Asia."

A cruise ship docked at Busan Port International Passenger Terminal.

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