Gangwon Tourism Organization Hosts Mitsui Familiarization Tour, Paving the Way for Sokcho Port to Become a Cruise Hub

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Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO Choi Sunghyun), Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and Sokcho City announced that they successfully hosted a four-day cruise familiarization tour at Sokcho Port for two officials from the Japanese cruise company Mitsui Ocean Cruise from the 28th to the 31st.

Gangwon Tourism Organization, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and Sokcho City invited two officials from the Japanese cruise company Mitsui Ocean Cruise to conduct a four-day cruise familiarization tour at Sokcho Port from the 28th to the 31st. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Organization

Mitsui Ocean Cruise is a Japanese cruise operator under Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), currently operating two vessels: Nippon Maru (22,000 tons) and Mitsui Ocean Fuji (32,000 tons). With plans to expand its fleet by introducing a new ship in 2026, the company has shown significant interest in Sokcho Port as part of its efforts to secure new ports of call.

During this familiarization tour, key executives from the cruise line visited and experienced a range of Gangwon’s unique tourism resources and content, including an inspection of the Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal, a tour of Seoraksan National Park, a cultural experience with displaced residents in Abai Village, a tasting tour at Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, a tour of the Goseong DMZ, and a hanbok and tea ceremony experience at Seongyojang in Gangneung.

Additionally, during a luncheon meeting with Sokcho Mayor Lee Byungseon, both parties discussed ways to expand port calls by Japanese cruise ships and promote tourism exchange. At this meeting, the official decision was made for a port call in Sokcho in 2027, which is seen as a symbolic achievement representing the expansion of new domestic routes for Japanese homeport cruises.

A cruise line official assessed that Sokcho is a highly competitive port of call not only for the Japanese market but also for the North American and European markets. In particular, the DMZ, Seoraksan National Park, and the culture of displaced residents offer differentiated tourism resources that are hard to find anywhere else in the world, making them attractive cruise tourism products that can be flexibly arranged as half-day or full-day itineraries.

The official added, "Sokcho is a city where visitors can experience both pristine natural environments and authentic local stories. With its high growth potential as an international cruise port, strengthening overseas promotion centered on these strengths will further enhance Sokcho’s brand value."

Choi Sunghyun, CEO of Gangwon Tourism Organization, stated, "This familiarization tour and the confirmed port call are concrete outcomes of Gangwon’s cruise attraction strategy. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with global cruise lines to develop Sokcho Port into a cruise hub in the East Sea Rim region."

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